Czech MP Rath should be released for new prosecution - committee

Fotogalerie: Korupční aféra Davida Ratha

Former Central Bohemia regional governor Rath told the committee that he wants to be released in order to prove his innocence, his lawyer Roman Jelinek said.

After attending the committee´s meeting, Rath was escorted back to a custody prison. He has been in custody for several months.

Rath, a prominent Social Democrat (CSSD) politician, was caught red-handed with a suspected bribe of seven million crowns in May and accused of corruption linked to the planned reconstruction of the Bustehrad chateau, Central Bohemia.

The lower house then stripped him of MP's immunity and he was remanded in custody. Rath´s membership of the CSSD was suspended.

The lower house session that opens on Tuesday will probably decide on Rath´s release for prosecution in the other case, concerning hospitals run by the regional authorities, on Wednesday. Rath will attend the session when it will be dealing with his case.

The position of the immunity committee is not binding, but only a recommendation.

As the police lack evidence in the Bustehrad case, they levelled further accusations against Rath, the committee´s head, CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka, quoted Rath as saying.

The decision of the committee was unanimous, said its member Radek John, opposition Public Affairs (VV) chairman.

John rejected Rath´s view that the cases are the election campaign of Interior Minister Jan Kubice (unaffiliated).

Rath made a very different impression than before and seemed friendly, he said, referring to the previous meeting on Rath´s stripping of immunity.

"It is a man determined to fight the court battle," John said.

Rath is in custody over the fears that he might escape and continue his criminal activities. Another ten people are prosecuted along with him over suspected manipulation of Central Bohemia's public orders.

The new accusations concern suspicious supplies of medical equipment to the hospitals in Kolin and Mlada Boleslav and an old people's home in Kladno, all central Bohemia.

($1=19.700 crowns)

Author: ČTK
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