Court halts prosecution of Judge Berka

A regional court dealing with cases which fall under the presidential amnesty has halted the prosecution of Judge Jiří Berka who is charged with criminal conspiracy and abuse of office in connection with several suspect bankruptcies. All charges against the judge have been dropped and the court moreover ruled that he should be paid five million crowns in compensation for lost wages. Judge Berka faced ten years in prison for assisting extensive property crime. The state attorney is expected to appeal the decision.