Praha - Transport Ministry Security Division chief Michal Pešan was fired only a few days after his subordinate confirmed to Aktuálně.cz that new First Deputy Transport Minister Jiří Hodač has not submitted a security screening certificate, as required by the screening law.
On Monday, Jiří Hodač dismissed Michal Pešan from his post.
"Hodač called me and gave me a piece of paper which stated my dismissal consisting of only one sentence," said Pešan to Aktuálně.cz. "Dismissed without reason."
The Ministry refused to further comment on its somewhat radical decision.
Strict access
Michal Pešan has been the Security Division boss for 18 years. Before that he worked at the Transport Ministry for nine years.
Pešan's task was to prepare crisis management plans for various catastrophes, calamities and wars. Apart from that Pešan's department also compiled and protected confidential information.
"I was in charge of the secret documents archive," explains Pešan. "My task was to control access to the archive and make sure only people that have undergone a security screening process have access to the documents."
Not long ago, Aktuálně.cz informed that new first Deputy Minister Jiří Hodač has not produced the security screening certificate unlike all of his predecessors and colleagues.
Jiří Hodač manages nine departments and as the first deputy minister he is to represent the minister in his absence.
"I won´t say"
Nevertheless, Hodač refused to comment on the reason why Michal Pešan was dismissed.
"You want to know why?" responded Hodač in a rather jeering tone. "Well, I won't tell you why. Call the spokesperson."
However, ministry spokesperson Karel Hanzelka did not know the reason for Pešan's dismissal. "I know it happened but I have no idea why. I have to find out myself."
After five hours, Karel Hanzelka informed Aktuálně.cz that the public is not to know the reason of the dismissal.
"No one at the Ministry wanted to tell me the reason," admitted spokesperson Hanzelka. "On the other hand, the minister can dismiss anyone he desires without stating a reason," explains Hanzelka.
