Olomouc chief prosecutor says no further action possible against former MPs

Olomouc Chief Prosecutor Ivo Ištván has said he does not believe there are grounds on which to renew corruption charges against three former Civic Democrat MPs who were suspected of accepting bribes in return for allowing the former centre-right government to survive. The three are believed to have laid down their mandates in return for lucrative posts in state owned companies. Although the Olomouc chief prosecutor appeared confident that he had the evidence needed to prove their guilt two separate rulings by the Supreme Court have gone in the former deputies’ favour. The court ruled that Petr Tluchoř, Marek Šnajdr, and Ivan Fuksa cannot be prosecuted for alleged corruption since their actions were covered by parliamentary immunity – both in and outside the Chamber of Deputies. The chief prosecutor said that such a broad interpretation of parliamentary immunity effectively ruled out further charges.