FBI enquires into Czech CS savings bank privatisation

The enquiry, that is officially to start early next year, has been provoked by two Austrian managers from the Erste Bank group, to which the then Czech government of Milos Zeman (Social Democrats, CSSD) sold the CS in 2000, the server writes.

The two bankers, Hans Leitner and Peter Andahazy, whom the Erste Bank dismissed earlier this year, say Erste Bank bribed local politicians and clerks when buying banks in Central and Eastern Europe.

The two told Aktualne.cz that in the Czech Republic the case involves leading politicians from the turn of the century.

Leitner and Andahazy hired lawyers in the U.S. and are planning to bring a lawsuit at the U.S. Federal Court. They can do this as Erste Bank has a U.S. banking licence.

Leitner told the server that the documents of evidence contain the names of Czech leaders involved in the transaction. He would not disclose any names for now, he said.

Erste Bank says the two managers tell lies and want to retaliate for having been sacked.

Former ministers of the then Czech cabinet of Milos Zeman have dismissed any suspicions of corruption as well.

Erste Bank reportedly sacked Leitner and Andahazy on suspicion of money laundering and illegal trade in gold. The Austrian prosecutor, however, has lifted the accusations and halted their prosecution.

Zeman's cabinet (1998-2002) was a minority cabinet of the CSSD that the rival opposition Civic Democrats (ODS) kept afloat in exchange for a portion of political and economic power.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz