Ďuričko, in custody for murder, sponsored both Civic and Social Democrats

Entrepreneur Bohumír Ďuričko, who is in custody for murder, had in the past donated money to both the Civic and the Social Democrats, the daily Hospodářské Noviny reported on Tuesday. The paper highlights widespread allegations that Czech politicians have contacts with suspect individuals. Ďuričko, who is reported to have collaborated with the communist secret service, got into a heated dispute with the son of Václav Kočka, a rich entrepreneur and former advisor to opposition leader Jiří Paroubek and killed him at a restaurant where they had been invited to attend the opposition leader’s book launch. Although Mr. Paroubek had long gone by the time the shooting occurred, the incident has hurt his party’s image ahead of the Senate and local elections due to take place this weekend.