Czech Interpol head fired for former secret police role

Pavol Mihal, the head of Czech Interpol has been dismissed after it was revealed that he previously worked for the country's communist-era secret police, the StB. Deputy police president Oldrich Martinu said on Friday that Mr Mihal had lost his qualifications to work for the police presidium and that he would be transferred to a position of ordinary policeman. The Czech media last week revealed that Mr Mihal had bypassed a 1991 law barring former secret service agents access to top public posts. He bypassed the law by slightly altering his name.