Pandora Papers: Head of Czech Financial Analytical Office to be questioned by commission

The head of the Financial Analytical Office (FAO) of the Ministry of Finance is expected to be questioned by a commission within the Czech lower-house of Parliament next Wednesday, Czech Radio’s news site iRozhlas.cz reports.

The Chairman of the Standing Commission on Activities of the Financial Analytical Office František Vácha told iRozhlas.cz that members of the commission plan to ask whether, over the past several years, the office looked into Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s offshore transactions through which he bought property in the South of France. That this transaction took place was revealed through the recently published international Pandora Papers investigation.

FAO directors are normally prevented from such questionings through a rule of confidentiality, but Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has said that he will lift the rule so that the matter can be investigated.