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The regional court in Ostrava on Sunday ruled that former Civic Democrat MP Marek Šnajdr be remanded in custody. Šnajdr is one of three former Civic Democrat MPs charged with having accepted a bribe in return for vacating their seats in Parliament. He was one of eight people charged in connection with the extensive anti-graft operation. Seven of the accused have been refused bail. Only the head of the country’s military intelligence, General Milan Kovanda was released. General Kovanda told the court he believed he was acting in the interests of the Czech Republic when he took orders from the prime minister’s chief-of-staff to spy on three people.

Olomouc High State Attorney Ivo Ištvan has said the police might re-open corruption cases which had been shelved in the past. Speaking in a televised debate, Mr. Ištvan said that all of the evidence collected within the ongoing anti-graft operation would be followed up. Among the persons targeted are two prominent lobbyists who have so far not been charged. Both are out of the country, but the police raided their Prague offices, confiscating sensitive documents and vast amounts of money in cash. In the past Swiss police froze one of the lobbyist’s accounts on suspicion of extensive money laundering. They asked Czech state attorneys for help but the Czech side shelved the case due to lack of evidence.

President Miloš Zeman has indicated that the prime minster should resign over a graft scandal involving his chief-of- staff. Asked by media whether the center-right cabinet should continue in office, Mr. Zeman said that the charges against the prime minister’s close aide Jana Nagyová were “very serious” and appeared to be well founded. After being briefed on the case by the police president and Olomouc state attorney, I have come to the conclusion that the charges of abuse of office and corruption are based on sufficient evidence, the president said. The prime minister has come under increasing pressure to quit in the wake of an extensive anti-graft sweep in several government institutions. Seven people have been charged in connection with the affairs.

The head of the country’s military intelligence, General Milan Kovanda, reportedly thought he was acting in the interests of the Czech Republic when he took orders from the prime minister’s chief-of-staff to spy on three people. The general’s lawyer told journalists on Saturday that General Kovanda had merely acted as a solider used to taking orders and not questioning them. Police investigators revealed that Jana Nagyová, who is romantically linked to the prime minister, had the three persons followed for her own private reasons. The general was released on a court order.