Politics
Former Czech Prime Minister Arraigned For Fraud
Andrej Babis ,former Czech prime minister and potential presidential candidate has been arraigned for fraud in the “Stork’s Nest Affair’’.
Accused of aiding and abetting fraud, 68-year-old billionaire founder of the populist ANO party on Monday appeared before the Municipal Court in Prague and claimed his prosecution was politically motivated.
He was charged over allegations that in 2008 he helped obtain EU subsidies for the Stork’s Nest wellness resort amounting to around €2 million ($2 million).
At the time, Babis was at the head of a large business empire, Agrofert, that spanned areas such as agriculture, food, chemicals and media.
The EU funds were intended for small and medium-sized businesses.
Agrofert returned the subsidy for the resort, located some 50km south of Prague.
Babis was prime minister of the Czech Republic from late 2017 to mid-December 2021.
He is expected to seek to succeed outgoing President Milos Zeman in the January presidential election.