Daily: police investigate suspicious money transfers in Janoušek case

The Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes has reported that police are investigating money transfers across five countries in a case of suspected money-laundering involving businessman Roman Janoušek. Mr Janoušek is being investigated by the Swiss. Mladá fronta Dnes reported the transfers included Switzerland, Panama, Liechtenstein, Great Britain, and Cyprus – a system that had drawn suspicion. It was reported this week that earlier the Swiss had frozen Mr Janoušek's Geneva account in which he had a reported 13 million Swiss francs (the equivalent of around 12 million USD). Other sources said the account had since been unblocked. Experts are looking into the source of the funds and whether they could be related to Czech state commissions. Roman Janoušek is a close friend of Prague Mayor Pavel Bém. The connection has raised concern among some leading Civic Democrats, including party leader Mirek Topolánek. Mayor Bém said he would not comment on Mr Janoušek's activities, which he said had nothing to do with the city.