The police have arrested five people in an ongoing investigation of the
ProMoPro case in which at least 135 million Czech crowns were embezzled
during the country’s EU presidency in 2009, the news website E15 reported
on Wednesday, citing confidential sources. Among those arrested is Jaroslav
Veselý, the owner of the ProMoPro company, which provided audiovisual and
interpreting services to the Czech government, as well as several of the
firm’s subcontractors; they face charges of embezzlement and money
laundering along with four other people, who have not been taken into
custody.
The case might have political implications as the ProMoPro deal was
overseen by then EU affairs minister, and the current Defense Minister
Alexandr Vondra, of the Civic Democrats, who in the past faced pressure to
resign over the scandal.