Police close off hotel in connection with methanol investigation

Police closed off a hotel in Zlín, Moravia, on Thursday belonging to businessman Radek Březina, suspected of involvement in the recent methanol affair in the Czech Republic. Thirty people lost their lives and scores of others ended up in hospital after unknowingly buying and consuming alcohol laced with the deadly chemical in mid-September. According to broadcaster Czech TV, Radek Březina is a key figure behind Likérka Drak, linked to the affair. Bottles with Drak stickers were, for example, found in a Zlín warehouse containing 50 percent methanol.

Police have already charged the executive head of Drak, Pavel Čaniga, in connection with the case and are searching for Robert Sedlařík, the head the distribution company that ran the warehouse where some of the tainted alcohol was found. Police on Thursday, meanwhile, stood guard outside the hotel in Zlín, monitoring activity; top officials, including the state prosecutor in charge of the methyl alcohol investigation, have declined to comment.

Author: Jan Velinger