Police arrest former PM’s aide over Pandur deal

The police have arrested Marek Dalík, a former close aide to then prime minister Mirek Topolánek, in connection with alleged corruption in the 2009 purchase of Pandur armoured vehicles for the Czech military. Prosecutor Lenka Bradáčová said on Monday Mr Dalík, who is the only person detained so far, had been charged with attempted fraud.

The Czech government paid 14.4 billion crowns, or some 750 million US dollars, for 107 Austrian-made Pandur armoured personnel carriers; the deal has come under criticism as overpriced. Last year, a manager of the Austrian arms producer Steyr accused Mr Dalík of demanding an 18-million-euro bribe. The case has been under investigation by Czech and Austrian police since 2010.