Police launches investigation into APC deal

The police has launched an investigation into the purchase of armoured personnel carriers for the Czech army on suspicion of corruption. The daily Mladá fronta Dnes alleged this week that Czech political parties received bribes in connection with the deal to buy 107 APCs from the Austrian firm Steyr. The contract was worth 14.4 billion Czech crowns or over 750 million US dollars, and the daily said two to three percent of that amount had allegedly gone to Czech politicians in kickbacks. However, representatives of the two biggest parties, the Social Democrats and the Civic Democrats, have denied any wrongdoing. The Austrian police has already launched an investigation into the sale.