The Prague City Court on Monday, January 9, acquitted former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Jan Nagy of charges in the Stork's Nest case of fraud in a $2 million European Union subsidy case, iDNES reported.. cz.
The prosecutor demanded for the ex-premier three years of probation and a fine of 10 million Czech crowns (440 thousand. USD). At the same time, Babis pleaded not guilty and repeatedly stated that the charges against him were politically motivated..
According to Judge Jan Schott, the case did not prove that the act described in the indictment was criminal.. Prosecutors can still challenge the decision.
“I am very glad that we have an independent court and the court confirmed what I said from the very beginning. That I'm innocent and didn't do anything illegal,"
The decision was made a few days before the first round of the presidential elections in the Czech Republic, in which Babis is considered one of the favorites..
At the same time, in October, Babis's party lost the parliamentary elections and ended up in opposition..
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The Stork's Nest case concerned a farm of the same name that received EU subsidies after it was taken out of the ownership of the Agrofert conglomerate owned by Babis and his family.. Later, Agrofert became the owner of the farm again.
Lawmakers had to waive Babis immunity from prosecution three times over the years in a case that began in 2007..