Ten officers charged with corruption

Ten police officers are standing trial in one of the biggest-ever corruption cases involving the Czech police force. The traffic officers in question made money on the side by pocketing fines and not writing out receipts, or by demanding bigger sums for serious transgressions. The suspects allegedly not only covered for each other, but demanded more money from drivers on the argument their colleagues needed to be paid off as well. The affair came to light after a driver complained to the officers’ superiors - who had their police cars bugged. If found guilty, the suspects could each face up to five years in prison.