Babiš denies wrongdoing as fraud trial begins in Prague

The trial has begun of ex-prime minister Andrej Babiš, who is facing charges of fraud in connection with the Stork’s Nest conference centre near Prague.

Mr. Babiš and his former advisor Jana Nagyová are accused of unlawfully acquiring around CZK 50 million in EU subsidies to build the complex.

The billionaire businessman told Prague’s Municipal Court on Monday that nobody had acted corruptly and that the money in question had been returned.

He said the reason he was facing criminal proceedings was that he had entered politics – otherwise nobody would have ever heard of the Stork’s Nest.

The trial follows a seven-year investigation. The defendants are accused of falsely creating the impression that the company Stork’s Nest met grant conditions as a small or medium-sized business.