Brno - The Czech Supreme Court gave the green light for state attorney Ivo Istvan to bring criminal charges against former Prime Minister Petr Necas. "At present he (Necas) is not protected by immunity" and can be prosecuted, said court spokesman Petr Knotig.
However, the court ruled that former lawmakers Ivan Fuksa, Marek Snajdr and Petr Tluchor from Necas's Civic Democratic Party (ODS) cannot be prosecuted for what they did before resigning from the Chamber of Deputies on November 7, 2012, even if their activities took place outside the lower house. Knotig said though that the three ex-lawmakers can be prosecuted for their actions after November 7, 2012.
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The prosecution argues that when prime minister, Necas provided the three lawmakers with lucrative positions in state-run companies Czech Railways, CEPRO and Czech Aeroholding. In exchange, the three men gave up their seats in the lower house in order to allow the government to pass a tax hike bill they did not agree with. Istvan considers this deal an act of bribery.
Istvan argued in its petition to the court that the deal between Necas and the three lawmakers from his political party had been forged outside the lower house, so their political immunity did not apply.
But the court says that while ex-PM Necas's immunity applied only to speeches in the Chamber of Deputies, the resignation of the three lawmakers was protected by political immunity as well as indemnity.
Istvan refused to say what steps he would take next. "The Supreme Court has not delivered us its ruling yet," he said.
