Macek fined over slap

Former Civic Democrat MP Miroslav Macek has been fined by a Prague court for slapping former health minister David Rath at a meeting of Czech dentists. The altercation took place in May 2006, when Mr Rath was addressing a conference, and when Mr Macek attacked him from behind. Following the incident, Mr Rath demanded an apology and 1 million CZK (50,000 USD) worth of damages from Mr Macek. On Wednesday, a Prague court fined Mr Macek 3,000 CZK (150 USD) for his conduct. Mr Macek, who said at the time that he had been 'settling a personal account', told journalists on Wednesday that he would never be ashamed of what he had done.