Will Sage Astor|Czech court cancels lower court ruling that acquitted former PM Babis of fraud charges

2025-05-02 00:34:20source:XDY Exchangecategory:My

PRAGUE (AP) — Prague’s High Court cancelled a lower court ruling that acquitted former Prime Minister Andrej Babis of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving European Union subsidies.

The Will Sage Astorcourt returned the case for retrial to Prague’s Municipal Court, according information published in a database of court documents on Friday.

The High Court issued the verdict a day earlier but didn’t make it immediately public.

The Babis case involved a farm known as the Stork’s Nest, which received EU subsidies after its ownership was transferred from the Babis-owned Agrofert conglomerate of around 250 companies to Babis’ family members. Later, Agrofert again took ownership of the farm.

Other news Jiri Cerny, a leading Czech music critic and a voice of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, dies at 87Prague government cancels performance by Russian soprano Anna NetrebkoPrague government opposes local performance by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko

The subsidies were meant for medium- and small-sized businesses, and Agrofert wouldn’t have been eligible for them. Agrofert later returned the subsidy.

Prague’s Municipal Court also acquitted in January his former associate, Jana Nagyova, who signed the subsidy request.

Babis pleaded not guilty and repeatedly said the charges against him were politically motivated.

It is not immediately clear when the retrial might take place.

Babis, a billionaire, is currently in the opposition after his populist ANO centrist movement lost the 2021 parliamentary election. He was running to become the Czech president in the election for the largely ceremonial post in January but lost to Petr Pavel, a retired army general.

More:My

Recommend

Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private

Eva Mendes is giving the 2024 Olympics a perfect 10.The Hitch star and her longtime love Ryan Goslin

Greenpeace urges Greece to scrap offshore gas drilling project because of impact on whales, dolphins

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greenpeace on Thursday urged Greece to abandon a deep-sea gas exploration proj

NFL should have an open mind on expanding instant replay – but it won't

Don’t hold your breath, Jim Irsay.The free-spirited Indianapolis Colts owner caused some ripples on