Čunek welfare abuse investigation dropped

An investigation into alleged welfare abuse by the Christian Democrat leader Jiří Čunek has been shelved, the Havířov state attorney said on Wednesday. Mr Čunek had been accused of accepting social welfare payments while at the same time allegedly having millions of crowns in various bank accounts. In November he stood down as deputy prime minister and minister for regional development over another case, in which he was accused of accepting bribes while mayor of a town in Moravia. Since the shelving of that investigation he has been demanding to be reinstated to the cabinet.