John confirms having known about Environment Fund allegations ahead of time

Interior Minister Radek John confirmed Saturday that he had been aware of allegations of corruption in the State Environmental Fund since the end of last summer, when he met with the fund’s then head Libor Michálek to discuss the situation. At a special press conference Mr John said that he had advised Mr Michálek to procure evidence of his accusations and give them to the proper authorities. Since then, he said, he had not seen Mr Michálek and had not intervened. Mr Michálek then secretly recorded a chief Environment Ministry advisor pressuring him to manipulate state contracts in order to finance the minister’s political career, and later a conversation in which Minister Pavel Drobil himself offered him a promotion if he destroyed the original evidence. Mr Drobil resigned on Wednesday. Leaders of the three-party coalition are due to discuss the affair at an emergency meeting on Sunday.