Regional Development Ministry wants 56 million crowns from Rath’s trial

The Regional Development Ministry is planning to seek damages of 56 million crowns n the highly anticipated corruption trial of former Central Bohemian governor David Rath, which begins on Wednesday. The amount is equivalent to the funds paid out by ministry for projects in the Central Bohemia region, which were covered by grants from the European Union, Czech Radio reported on Tuesday. After last year’s arrest of Mr. Rath and a number of his associates who were accused of manipulating EU-funded projects, the European Commission refused to reimburse the Czech Republic.