Aktualne.cz: Social Democratic Party presses charges against former deputy chairman

The Czech Internet server aktualne.cz has reported that the Social Democratic Party has pressed charges against former deputy chairman Ivo Svoboda, allegedly for his role in preparing a supposedly disadvantageous contract with lawyer Zdenek Altner ten years ago. The lawyer is suing the party for twenty billion crowns (the equivalent of almost 1 billion US dollars) in unpaid fees. Mr Svoboda was deputy chairman in Milos Zeman's government. According to aktualne.cz, charges will not be pressed against Mr Zeman who signed the actual deal. Ivo Svodoba is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for embezzling funds from a private company.