Doctor gets 18 years for conspiracy to murder and blackmail while in jail

Disgraced doctor Jaroslav Barták has received an 18-year jail term for conspiracy to murder three people and to blackmail three others. He was already serving a 12-year sentence for raping and blackmailing a number of his assistants when he committed the latest crime. Mr. Barták’s intended victims were former military intelligence chief Andor Šándor, lawyer Oldřich Choděra and Orthodox priest Eugen Freimann. He hoped to raise over CZK80 million via blackmail that he would use to fund his escape from prison. The once prominent doctor has appealed Tuesday’s verdict.

Author: Ian Willoughby