Czech Supreme Court rejects CSSD head's complain against MfD

The court published the verdict on its website today.

Paroubek was thus denied the right to publish his reaction to the articles in which the paper indicated that in the capacity of Czech PM (2005-2006) he was behind the issuing of an arrest warrant for Pitr.

Paroubek demanded that MfD published his statement in reaction to the articles in which he wanted to stress that he had always respected the independence of the judiciary and had never sought to influence Pitr's case in any way.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court pointed to the general legal opinion that periodical press cannot fully avoid simplifications.

It is therefore impossible to demand absolutely precise formulations from the paper, the court said.

"It is necessary to take into consideration that in the case of politicians and other public officials courts' assessments of individual statements are more lenient to the benefit of journalists," the panel of judges led by Pavel Pavlik said.

The Prague City Court that first dealt with Paroubek's complaint and the Prague High Appeals Court ruled in 2007 that the articles in MfD did not harm Paroubek's name.

The dispute concerned the articles headlined "Arrest Pitr, it is the wish of the prime minister," and "An arrest warrant masterminded by Paroubek" which indicated that political reasons and Paroubek's wish were behind Pitr's arrest.

The warrant for arrest of Pitr was issued out of fear of his escaping abroad. However, Pitr later deposited a bail and was not taken into custody.

Pitr was finally sentenced to five years in prison for tax crimes. According to the prosecution, Pitr and his accomplices deprived the state of 51 million crowns.

Pitr and his accomplices have been convicted and given prison sentences for exacting the return of taxes from tax offices with the help of fictitious invoices.

Pitr, who was generally connected with the state-controlled food company Setuza, is considered one of the richest Czechs.

He did not turn up in prison to start serving his sentence and escaped abroad. His whereabouts are not known.

Pitr declared many times in the past that he refused to turn up in prison out of fear for his life.

Pitr, who has several times unsuccessfully demanded that his case be reopened, has been in hiding abroad since 2007.

Apart from the Czech, European and international warrants for his arrest have been issued.

($1=17.575 crowns)

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz