The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: EC on June 15, 2013, 04:41:07 am
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Huffington Post via the AP feed: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/czech-prime-minister-aide-illegal-spying_n_3441497.html
PRAGUE — A multi-pronged scandal involving the prime minister's top aide, his estranged wife, military spy chiefs, former ruling party lawmakers and kilograms of gold raised unanswered questions Friday about the troubled government of Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas.
Nobody outside the halls of Czech power seems to know what's going on or how the rapidly-moving developments are connected, but a list of them reads like elements in a spy novel:
_ The Czech military was spying on the prime minister's estranged wife.
_ Millions of dollars and a stash of gold bars were seized by hooded police in 31 overnight raids nationwide.
_ Seven people have been charged with abuse of power or corruption, according to prosecutors.
Czechs, who have grown used to high-level corruption scandals since the fall of communism in 1989 – including a former defense minister asking the U.S. ambassador for a $5 million bribe – are watching the developments with bewilderment.
Czech police and prosecutors said Friday they believe Necas' closest aide ordered a military intelligence agency to illegally spy on three people, vastly overstepping her authority.
More at link.