Police have charged Social Democrat MP Rath

Police on Tuesday charged Social Democrat MP and Central Bohemian governor David Rath with corruption. The police were able to charge the governor unusually quickly due to the fact that he was caught in the act, which gives prosecutors the chance to circumvent a law on MP immunity under which the chair of the lower house of Parliament first has to give their approval for the criminal prosecution of an MP to go ahead. Along with the MP and governor, seven other people were arrested. The regional prosecutor said they were suspected of damaging the EU’s financial interests, bribery and corruption. The news website idnes.cz reported the arrests were linked to an investigation of public procurements paid for by EU funds.

Author: Sarah Borufka