The Czech judiciary will resume investigation into Prime Minister Andrej Babis for fraud and misuse of EU funds. This was announced by the Czech Attorney General Pavel Zeman.
In September, the Prague Public Prosecutor's Office had initially closed the investigation against the 65-year-old billionaire. At the time, however, the available evidence had been mispriced and insufficient account had been taken of European legislation, Zeman said. The case goes therefore back to the prosecutor in Prague, which must now decide again.
The case concerns subsidies for the construction of the wellness resort "Stork's Nest" in Central Bohemia, after which the affair was named. The big businessman Babis is accused of having stolen nearly two million euros in EU subsidies, which were actually intended for smaller companies. The investigation against several family members of the multi-billionaire will not be resumed.
EU Commission is expected to reclaim millions
With the decision, the pressure on the founder of the populist party ANO increases significantly. Only recently had media reported that the EU Commission accuses Babis of a conflict of interest as an entrepreneur and politician in an audit report and should reclaim subsidies in the millions.
Babis, however, told parliamentarians that there was "not the slightest reason" to repay the money. It is "absurd" for the EU to interpret Czech laws.
In mid-November, a quarter of a million people protested at a major rally in Prague against the head of government. They demanded his immediate resignation.