Czech police detain lobbyist Dalik in connection with Pandur case

She said Dalik, a close friend of former prime minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS), is one of the persons detained in the case.

Bradacova would not say for the time being when Dalik was detained and whether he has heard an accusation. She also refused to give any details on the case.

The decision to buy 199 Pandurs with an optin for another 35 to the total value of 20.8 billion crowns was made by the government of Jiri Paroubek (then Social Democrats, CSSD) in 2006.

At the end of 2007, Topolanek´s government withdrew from the purchase, citing a breach of the contract terms by the supplier, the Austrian firm Steyr.

Half a year later, the government made a decision on a new order within which it bought 107 APCs for 14.4 billion crowns. The contract was signed in the spring of 2009.

Media later released a testimony by an Austrian manager who said Topolanek´s friend Dalik asked for a bribe of half a billion crowns as a commission for the deal in end-2007.

A Czech-Austrian police team started to investigate the purchase of the APCs in mid-July 2010.

Proceedings were launched on suspicion of the crime of scheming in a public tender and public auction was committed.

Former deputy prime minister Martin Bartak (ODS) is also mong the suspects.

($1=19.158 crowns)

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz