Justice Ministry should not have accepted billion-crown bitcoin donation, audit concludes

The Czech Ministry of Justice should not have accepted a bitcoin donation worth billions of crowns, an external audit has concluded. According to auditing firm Grant Thornton, the ministry was aware of circumstances suggesting a significant risk that the donation could have originated from the proceeds of criminal activity. Auditors say the ministry failed to take the necessary steps to eliminate this risk before accepting the gift, falling short of the principles of proper governance.

The affair led to the resignation of then-justice minister Pavel Blažek. His successor, Eva Decroix (SPOLU) of the Civic Democratic Party, pledged to review the ministry’s handling of the donation ahead of the autumn parliamentary elections. The review includes this independent audit, the second part of which is expected by the end of August.