Prague court expected to deliver verdict in Babiš fraud case on Monday

The Prague Municipal Court is expected to deliver a verdict on Monday in the closely-watched case against former prime minister and presidential candidate Andrej Babiš, who is being tried on charges of EU fraud. The chief prosecutor has proposed a three year suspended sentence and a fine of 10 million crowns. Mr. Babiš is suspected of manipulating ownership rights to the Stork’s Nest company, which was part of his multi billion crown empire, so that it could acquire a 50 million crown EU grant intended for  small and medium-sized businesses. The trial follows a seven-year investigation and is at the centre of media attention in view of the fact that Mr. Babiš is one of the hot candidates in the presidential race.