Libor Vrba, the director of the Financial Crime and Corruption Division (ÚOKFK) of the Czech Police, resigned Feb. 23 and will leave his post March 15, according to media reports. The Interior Ministry oversees the police force, including the ÚOKFK; Interior Minister Radek John (Public Affairs, VV) has already dismissed several important figures appointed by his predecessor, Ivan Langer (Civic Democrats, ODS).
Vrba was also a Langer appointee, and speculation that he would be forced out began several months ago. John, who is also head of the VV party chairman, campaigned heavily on an anti-corruption platform in the May 2010 elections. VV is a junior coalition member in the ODS-led center-right government. When a vote of confidence in the government took place in December 2010, John expressed his concerns over then-Police President Oldřich Martinů, who ultimately was forced to step down as part of a reported deal to keep the government intact.
The work of the anti-corruption police — which is responsible for exposing illicit connections between business, politics and the state administration — has come under increasing scrutiny from politicians and the public. Prime Minister Petr Nečas (ODS) and newly appointed Police President Petr Lessy have both criticized the paltry number of investigations opened by the ÚOKFK as well as leaks of sensitive information from the department. Instead of deciding which cases to investigate, the police leadership would be more useful in helping to resolve cases
Detectives from the anti-corruption police, who declined to be identified, told Czech Position that instead of deciding which cases to investigate, the leadership of the Czech Police would be more useful in helping to resolve ongoing cases. The leadership decides on how many specialists to assign to a case, which can be a decisive factor for resolving it, they said.
The detectives added that the head of the anti-corruption division has limited influence over such decisions, and that he is ultimately subordinate to the Interior Minister. As long as he doesn’t receive a clear order to finish an investigation and turn it over to the public prosecutor, it is very difficult to implicate a “big fish,” irrespective of the people working on the case.
As for information leaks, the situation in the police is similar to that in other state organs. The interior minister told the police that as of January they would receive 10 percent less pay and that bonuses would possible be suspended, this provides additional motivation for disclosing information to the public.
Libor Vrba has served as ÚOKFK chief for just over two years. The post has had a high turnover, with four people holding it in the past five years.
