Appeals court returns Diag Human case for reappraisal

Prague Municipal Court has decided to return the case of former health minister Marie Souckova, who was acquitted last year of breach of trust and abuse of public office by a lower court, for reappraisal. Ms Souckova is being prosecuted for signing a contract between the Health Ministry and lawyer Zdenek Novacek which concerned legal aid in the state's dispute with the Diag Human company. The contract was allegedly disadvantageous for the state. It promised Mr Novacek 10 million crowns for representing the state and another 170 million if he won the case. If found guilty, Marie Souckova faces three to ten years in prison.