Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis was acquitted in the “Storks’ Nest” trial. The Prague City Court announced the verdict early this morning – four days before the presidential election in which Babis is running. He is considered one of the favorites. The prosecution had asked for a three-year suspended sentence.
The owner of Agrofert Holding has been accused of fraud in millions of EU subsidies. Specifically, these were EU subsidies for the construction of the wellness resort “Ninho da Cegonha” (Capi hnizdo) worth almost two million euros.
subsidies reimbursed
According to the indictment, Babis allegedly obtained EU subsidies in 2008 by temporarily handing over the complex in Olbramovice, in central Bohemia, to relatives. Because EU funds were only for small and medium-sized companies.
After a few years, the project came back under the umbrella of his corporate empire. Meanwhile, the former head of government, under pressure because of the case, returned the subsidies to the State.
Babis’ former aide Jana Nagyova was also acquitted. Neither Babis nor Nagyova were present at the sentencing hearing. The verdict is not yet legally binding. It remains unclear whether the Public Prosecutor’s Office will appeal against this.