Daily news summary
Krejčíř moved to South Africa’s most secure prison over escape plot
Radovan Krejčíř was moved to South Africa’s most secure prison last month after the authorities uncovered an escape plot by the Czech mafia boss, the South African news website Times Live reported on Thursday. Krejčír is serving a 35-year jail term for attempted murder, kidnap and drug running. Last week he lodged a complaint against what he called inhuman conditions at the eBongweni C-Max prison. However, prison service officials said he had been transferred there after a security breach. Krejčír is reported to have planned prison escapes several times in the past. He fled investigation in the Czech Republic in 2005 and later became one of South Africa’s most notorious criminals.
Nečas “jobs for the boys” trial gets underway
A trial centred on the alleged offering of bribes to politicians begins at the Prague 1 district court on Thursday. Petr Nečas, his now wife and former senior assistant Jana Nečasová and ex-deputy agriculture minister Roman Boček are accused of offering “jobs for the boys” to three then Civic Democrat MPs in exchange for their support of legislation in 2012, when Mr. Nečas was party leader and prime minister. The case helped lead to the fall of Mr. Nečas’s government the following year. Civic Democrats Marek Šnajdr, Ivan Fuksa and Petr Tluchoř resigned as MPs shortly after opposing their party on a crucial vote, allowing the government to survive. Two of them received lucrative posts at state companies soon afterwards.
Children’s book illustrator Karel Franta dies at the age of 89
Czech painter and illustrator Karel Franta has died in Prague at the age of 89. Franta was known mainly for his illustrations of children’s books. He won many prizes for them, including the Grand Prix of UNICEF in Frankfurt am Main for the best illustration of 1986. In 1994, he was recognised internationally by being listed on the International Board of Books for Young People. An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Karel Franta is opening this weekend in the north Bohemian town of Lomnice nad Popelkou.
Czechs spent nearly one billion crowns in cinemas in first half of 2017
Czech cinemas attracted 7.5 million viewers in the first half of 2017, which is a seven percent increase compared to the same period last year. According to figures released by the Union of Film Distributors on Thursday, Czech cinema operators sold tickets worth 993 million crowns, nine percent more than the box office takings in the previous year. The film ‘Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ attracted the most visitors.
Former banker in frame for massive sale of forged painting
Czech police are hunting for a former top banker who is suspected of selling forged painting to a series of VIP clients. Police believe the former banker, who used to deal with VIP clients at Komerční Banka, has probably fled abroad. He is believed by police to have successfully sold modern paintings valued at at least 30 million crowns and was in the process of selling more, with a value of around 53 million, with another 40 million crowns of paintings in stock for later deals. Among those duped by the banker is the Czech actress Jiřina Bohdalová. Police say the suspected con man was last spotted in Istanbul with latest reports suggesting he might be in Fiji.
Access to Krkonoše park limited due to blueberry pickers
The administration of Krkonoše National Park has limited access to some areas of the park to protect it against an invasion of blueberry pickers. The measure, which will affect around 15 percent of the park’s protected area, was introduced on Thursday and will stay in force until October 15. Those who are caught breaking the ban face a fine of up to 10,000 crowns.
Weather
Friday is expected to be mostly cloudy with rain showers and storms. Daytime temperatures should range between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius.
