Organ maker faces music for suspected fraud

Police said Thursday that they had charged a Prostějov-based organ maker with fraud. The man was commissioned by Hradec Králové city council to build a new organ for its philharmonic orchestra and advanced 6.0 million crowns as a down payment. When the project appeared to be running into problems, the council asked for the money back but the man had already spent 5.4 million on himself. He faces up to 12 years in prison if found guilty. The organ was supposed to have been completed in 2007. Last year the contract was awarded to another manufacturer.

Author: Chris Johnstone