Czech Police Chief believed to have tipped off prime suspect

Czech Police Chief Vladislav Husak is under investigation for having allegedly warned a prime suspect in one of the country's biggest corruption cases, the so-called "bio-fuel" case, ahead of an investigation. The Mlada fronta Dnes newspaper reports that the secret police have records of Mr Husak holding a long telephone conversation with the adviser to the former Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Miroslav Slouf. The conversation took place just after Mr Husak was informed by the anti-corruption unit that an operation would be launched. Mr Slouf then allegedly warned the prime suspect in the case. Mr Husak has not commented on the reports.

In response to the latest allegations, former Social Democrat Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan said on Thursday Mr Husak's contacts with Miroslav Slouf were not related to the bio-fuel corruption case. Several lobbyists and Social Democrat public officials were arrested last spring in connection with the "bio-fuel" case. They are believed to have offered or accepted bribes to influence the outcome of public tenders in the area of bio-fuel production.