Čtvrtek 28. března 2024, svátek má Soňa
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Lidovky.cz

Ex-Czech state roads manager faces child porn charges: Právo

  9:00

Police discover Child pornography in home of ex-ŘSD director Michal Hala, already in custody since last December on corruption charges

Po roce 2006 Michal Hala Ředitelství silnic a dálnic určitou dobu ovládal. foto: © Jakub HněvkovskýČeská pozice

During a search of the home of Michal Hala, former managing director of the Roads and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) state agency, police discovered CDs and DVDs containing child pornography, the daily Právo reported Tuesday. Hala was charged with three others last December on suspicion of renting plots of land adjacent to motorways at knock-down prices in exchange for kick backs.

“We can confirm that one of the men in the case was charged with further crimes several days ago and now, in addition to the previous acts, he is also accused of producing and handling child pornography,” spokesman for the Czech Police Presidium Jaroslav Ibehej told the daily.

Ibehej said the man could face a prison sentence of up to two years if found guilty of the child pornography charges. Although he did not name Hala, Právo said two independent sources had confirmed the man in question was indeed the ex-ŘSD director.    

Hala, 32, was detained along with seven others during a swoop on a restaurant in Prague on December 22. Czech Television (ČT) reported shortly thereafter that the suspects were caught red-handed exchanging promissory notes. He was charged and remanded in custody along with three others: former director of the ŘSD Petr Laušman; former lawyer for the agency Robert Wolf; and CEO of the company Monstera International Jiří Neužil.

Laušman and Wolf were released from custody last week after the state prosecution service decided not to apply for an extension to their custody period.

According to the investigation’s findings, the ŘSD’s deals with land plots and service stations onthe D5 and D47 motorways caused the state damages amounting to Kč 264 million.

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