Police recommend charges ex-PM’s right hand man over dubious arms deal

The police on Friday recommended that charges of attempted fraud be raised against Marek Dalík, a former close aide to ex-prime minister Mirek Topolánek, over his role in the 2009 acquisition of armoured vehicles for the Czech army. The anti-corruption unit of the police alleges that in 2007, Mr Dalík asked an employee of the Austrian firm Steyr, which supplied the vehicles, for an 18-million euro bribe to ensure the continuation of the deal. The investigators believe Mr Dalík committed attempted fraud as he had no influence over the contract. Mirek Topolánek’s government eventually approved the purchase of 107 Pandur armoured vehicles for 14.4 billion crowns.

Author: Jan Richter