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Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis faces fraud trial

Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis went on trial on Monday in a €2 million fraud case involving European Union subsidies.

The case includes a farm often known as the Stork’s Nest that obtained EU subsidies after its possession was transferred from the Babis-owned Agrofert conglomerate of round 250 corporations to Babis’ relations. Later, Agrofert once more took possession of the farm.

The subsidies had been meant for medium- and small-sized companies, and Agrofert wouldn’t have been eligible for them.

Agrofert later returned the subsidy.

Lawmakers have needed to elevate Babis’ immunity from prosecution 3 times in the midst of the years within the case that dates to 2007.

Prague’s public prosecution workplace accomplished the evaluate of the case in March and went forward with Babis’ indictment. It was repeatedly really helpful by police investigators.

Babis, a populist billionaire, denies any wrongdoing and has repeatedly stated the allegations in opposition to him had been politically motivated.

He was current at Prague’s Municipal Court docket on Monday. His former affiliate, Jana Nagyova, who signed the subsidy request, stood trial with him.

“I do not really feel responsible,” Babis stated in his opening assertion. “I am harmless. I am standing right here solely as a result of I’m in politics. If I wasn’t in politics, no person would ever hear in regards to the Stork’s Nest.”

Babis’ centrist ANO motion stormed Czech politics in 2013, ending a shock second within the parliamentary election with an anti-corruption message to change into a junior associate within the authorities with Babis as finance minister. 4 years later he gained the election and have become premier.

1 / 4 of one million individuals took to the streets — the most important such demonstrations because the 1989 anti-Communist Velvet Revolution — twice in 2019 to demand that Babis step down as a result of his scandals, together with the battle of curiosity over EU subsidies involving his former enterprise empire.

The prosecution requested for suspended sentences and fines for Babis and Nagyova, although they could resist 10 years in jail. It isn’t instantly clear when a verdict is perhaps issued.

Babis’ motion misplaced the parliamentary election in October. A coalition of 5 events fashioned a brand new authorities, and ANO ended up in opposition.

He is at present contemplating operating for the largely ceremonial put up of the nation’s president.

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