Marek Dalik, a former adviser to PM Mirek Topolanek (2006-2010), was arrested on Monday and charged with fraud in relation to the purchase of Pandur armored personnel carrier by the Czech military in 2009.
However, Dalik's arrest is only the latest development in a saga that started nearly one decade ago.
2003 - The government of PM Vladimir Spidla (Social Democracy) approves the defense ministry's plan to purchase 240 armored personnel carriers.
2005 - The government of PM Stanislav Gross (Social Democracy) puts out a tender for a supplier of the carriers. Seven firms present their bids, the government picks Finnish Patria and Austrian Steyr, with the latter a subsidiary of US General Dynamics.
2006 - The government of PM Jiri Paroubek decides to buy the carriers from Steyr for CZK 23.6 billion. Patria, the rejected bidder, protests.
2007 - Jaroslav Kopriva, a deputy defense minister in the government of PM Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats), says the carriers have failed in tests. Eventually, the cabinet decides to walk away from the deal with Steyr.
2008, March - Defense Minister Parkanova says the Czech military will buy 107 Pandur carriers, provided they pass the tests.
Police want to prosecute ex-Defense Minister Parkanova
2008, September - The Defense Ministry announces that the carriers have succeeded in the trials.
2009 - Topolanek's government approves the purchase. Deputy Defense Minister Martin Bartak signs a contract with Steyr on the supply of 107 Pandur carriers for CZK 14.4 billion.
2010 - Czech and Austrian authorities start to investigate the deal on suspicion of corruption.
2011, May - Czech Internet newspaper Novinky.cz reports that a former Steyr employee said that Marek Dalik had asked for a fee of EUR 18 million in exchange for securing the Pandur deal for Styer. Dalik calls the allegation "absolute nonsense".
2011, July - Czech daily MF Dnes says that the Czech military paid four times more than Portugal did for the same carriers.
