Czech police propose indictment of PM Babis for EU fraud

Prague, Czech Republic – Czech police have proposed pressing formal charges against Prime Minister Andrej Babis for EU subsidy fraud and damaging the financial interests of the European Union.

Czech police suggest pressing charges against Andrej Babis for EU subsidy fraud

According to local media, citing police and municipal sources, Czech investigators have concluded, at the end of last month, their investigation into the so-called Stork’s Nest affair, in which PM Andrej Babis is suspected of illegal misappropriation of up to 50 million Czech crowns in EU subsidy funds, a decade ago.

The Czech Premier, whose ANO movement remains the most popular party according to recent polls, always denied the allegations, calling it a political witch-hunt launched by his opponents to damage his reputation.

According to Radio Prague, Prime Minister Andrej Babis could face between five and ten years in prison if stripped of his immunity, tried and found guilty of EU subsidy fraud.

PM Babis also under scrutiny for conflict of interest

For the time being, however, Czech police have handed the files to the public prosecutor, who will decide whether or not to prosecute in the coming months.

Czech investigators proposed to press charges against a total number of six people, including the Prime Minister’s wife.

Andrej Babis, the second richest man in the Czech Republic, is also under investigation for conflict of interest in a separate affair, despite transferring his ownership of agricultural giant Agrofert into a trust fund two years ago to comply with a new anti-conflict of interest legislation.