Choirmaster to stay in custody as state prosecution appeals court ruling

Renowned Czech choirmaster Bohumil Kulinsky is to remain in police custody, where he has been since November on suspicion of sexually abusing underage girls. Mr Kulinsky hoped he would be released after the Constitutional Court ruled that the two extensions of custody were in breech of the constitution and a Prague district court decided to release him. But the state prosecution appealed the verdict, arguing that he would influence witnesses and could even continue with the sexual abuse. Mr Kulinsky now has to wait for the court to make a ruling in a process that could take several weeks.

Mr Kulinsky is the director of the prestigious Bambini di Praga girls' choir. Since his arrest, over one hundred current and former choir members have come forward with accusations of sexual abuse.