Hotel owner charged with endangering the public health

Police have charged a hotel owner in Zlín with endangering the public health after it emerged that he had put dozens of people at risk by failing to close down the facility after hygiene officers confirmed the presence of legionella bacteria in the hotels waterworks. The presence of the bacteria was confirmed last year after a foreign national died of the infection. The hotel owner failed to take any measures and continued to take in guests, putting at risk 36 people. Another man reportedly developed serious health problems as a result. It is not clear if the owner was aware of the problem before the death of one of the hotel guests last year. If convicted he faces up to eight years in prison for criminal negligence. The hotel, which has its own source of water, has been closed down.