Prosecution halted against ex-MPs accused of corruption

Supreme State Attorney Pavel Zeman on Friday halted the prosecution of three former MPs charged with bribe taking. The three former Civic Democrat deputies were accused of having agreed to quit their seats in the lower house in return for posts in state-run firms. Last month, they were taken into custody in a police operation that led to the fall of the government. But last week, the Supreme Court ruled their alleged offences were covered by their parliamentary immunity. The case now returns to prosecutors who should decide on further action. The prosecution of the ex-prime minister Nečas’s chief of staff, and of another former official, charged in the same case, can go ahead after minor modifications, according the Supreme State Attorney.