Fugitive Czech businessman thought to be in hiding in Switzerland

Fugitive Czech businessman, Tomáš Pitr, sentenced to five years in prison for tax evasion, may be in hiding in Switzerland. The news site Novinky.cz reported the story based on apparent evidence from the Interpol office in Bern. A Prague judge reportedly confirmed that the Swiss had reason to believe Mr Pitr might be in the country. Mr Pitr is one of the Czech Republic’s wealthiest businessmen; he disappeared when he was to begin his prison time. His crime in the Czech Republic would be barred by now under Switzerland’s statute of limitations. This summer there were reports from visitors at Euro 2008, in Switzerland and Austria, claiming Mr Pitr and members of his family had been sighted at the tournament.