Parliament’s Mandate and Immunity Committee advises giving up Parkanová for prosecution

Parliament’s Mandate and Immunity Committee has advised deputies in the lower house to strip Vlasta Parkanová from TOP 09 of her immunity, opening the way for prosecution. Ms. Parkanová is suspected of abuse of public office and breach of trust in connection with a 3.5 billion crown purchase of CASA military transport planes while she served as defense minister in 2009. According to an independent assessment the planes were overpriced by 658 million crowns. The former defense minister has come under fire for not commissioning an expert assessment on the price, though the Institute of State and Law has concluded that no such assessment was required under Czech law. Ms. Parkanová says her conscience is clear. The lower house is to take a final vote on whether to give her up for prosecution later this week.