Ex-minister gets apology and compensation for wrongful prosecution

The Czech Ministry of Justice has apologised to former defence minister Vlasta Parkanová for unlawful prosecution in a case surrounding the purchase of military planes. She also received compensation of CZK 1.6 million.

Ms. Parkanová had been facing prosecution since 2012 and was definitively acquitted by the courts almost a year ago.

The government approved the purchase of four CASA transport aircraft at a cost of around CZK 3.5 billion in 2009. Three years later the police, who were investigating the matter, asked MPs to lift Ms. Parkanová’s parliamentary immunity.

She and another official were accused of buying the planes without ordering an independent analysis but the charges were later dismissed.