Communist MP Vondruška charged with abuse of office

The state attorney has filed charges against communist MP Josef Vondruška, a former prison guard, who stands accused of maltreating political prisoners in the early 1980s. Mr Vondruška is charged with abuse of office, having allegedly beaten inmates while working as a warden at the Minkovice jailhouse. The Communist MP allegedly targeted political prisoners such as dissidents Jiří Wolf and Vladimír Hučín. He denies all charges. Late last year, Czech parliamentarians decided to strip Mr Vondruška of his political immunity and hand him over to the police for investigation. If found guilty, he faces three to ten years in prison.