Former deputy minister accused of EU funds fraud

Former deputy local development minister Petr Forman has rejected accusations of EU funds fraud during his time in office. The former deputy minister and nine other people have been charged with taking over a government agency created to funnel EU funds with the sole target of acquiring the cash in its account. The state prosecutor in the case said that by paying one million crowns for the agency the accused had gained access to 144 million crowns then in the account. The accused, who face jail sentences of between five and twelve years, have all pleaded not guilty.