Former police president released from custody

Prague’s Municipal Court confirmed on Monday that the former head of the Prague police, Vladimír Kotrouš, facing trial for alleged corruption, could be released from custody. The former official was being held on the grounds he could try and influence witnesses. The court upheld a decision by the district court for Prague 9 and rejected an appeal by the state prosecutor. Mr Kotrouš left Prague’s Pankác prison shortly before 1 pm but refused to talk to reporters. The suspect is being investigated by the police for having accepted at least one bribe; detectives from the country’s anti-organised crime taskforce suspect he received several million crowns in return for awarding a multi-million-crown contract to a private firm. If found guilty in the case, he could face up to 12 years in prison.

Author: Jan Velinger