100 million crown subsidy fraud at Agrofert: key witness refuses to testify after intervention by Babiš's lawyers
Václav Šrámek, former manager of Agrofert, faces charges of subsidy fraud exceeding one hundred million crowns. A key witness refused to testify after an intervention by the lawyers of Andrej Babiš.
Former Agrofert manager in court for 100 million crown subsidy fraud
Václav Šrámek (79), former manager of the food giant Agrofert connected to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, faces charges of particularly serious subsidy fraud and damage to the financial interests of the European Union. According to respekt.cz, he faces up to ten years imprisonment.
Šrámek, once an energetic senior executive, appeared before journalists as a bent man on crutches at the door of his villa in a Brno suburb. "Leave me alone. Let me live out my days," he said in a quiet voice. Regarding the upcoming trial, he added only: "I just want this to be over."
The state prosecutor accuses him of submitting, together with colleagues, an application for a European subsidy of over one hundred million crowns for a production line for toast bread, which was presented as innovative — despite not being innovative. According to the indictment, the company thereby obtained funds to which it was not entitled.
The case is further complicated by the conduct of a key witness, who was originally willing to testify but changed his mind after lawyers for Andrej Babiš intervened in the matter. It is the largest suspected subsidy transaction connected to the Prime Minister, according to respekt.cz. The court proceedings are to begin in the coming months.
Source: Google News CZ — Crime (cs)