Former Czech health minister could be jailed
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《英国医生杂志》
Former Czech health minister, Marie Souckova, faces up to eight years in prison after being charged in connection with a court case being fought between the state and blood plasma company Diag Human.
The Czech Republic has already had to pay 327m korunas (?.6m, $14.1m, �10.8m) to Diag Human for damaging the company抯 reputation after a failed business deal in the early 1990s and is being sued for further financial losses.
Dr Souckova was health minister until she was sacked last April by the then prime minister, Vladim韗 妏idla. She is aged 51 and faces two to eight years in prison if found guilty. State attorney, Tomas Blaha, said that the former minister had been charged over agreeing a contract with lawyer Zdenek Novacek to represent the ministry in the court case without tendering for legal services.
Under the terms of the contract, Dr Novacek stood to earn 170m korunas if the state won the case and at least 10m korunas whether he won or lost. "There is a suspicion of criminal activity in relation to the signature of a contract between the Health Ministry and the lawyer, Dr Novacek," Mr Blaha said. But he declined to give any more details about the charges brought.
In the early 1990s, shortly after the end of the communist regime in the then Czechoslovakia, Diag Human planned to start trading in blood plasma from the country抯 blood transfusion banks. But after critical statements about the company were made by the then health minister, Martin Bojar, the deal was scrapped. The Czech government was ordered to pay 327m korunas to the company as compensation for harming its good name.
Furthermore, the state faces the threat of having to pay the Czech company up to 6bn korunas more as Diag Human is seeking further compensation for commercial losses. Dr Souckova had insisted that the state would win the case against Diag Human and that it would get back the money that it had already paid.
The Health Ministry declined to comment on charges being brought against Dr Souckova. "We cannot interfere with the ongoing investigations by making any comment," spokeswoman Vera Carna said. "As well as the police investigation there is also a parliamentary commission investigating the Diag Human case."
Dr Souckova was sacked last year amid much criticism by doctors and politicians for failing to push through much needed health reforms. She was uncontactable.
Dr Novacek meanwhile says that he wants to sue the state for the money he says he is owed after the ministry withdrew from the contract last May. The Czech Bar Association has begun disciplinary proceedings against Dr Novacek for breaching its code and professional standards, particularly rules of professional ethics.(Prague Katka Krosnar)
The Czech Republic has already had to pay 327m korunas (?.6m, $14.1m, �10.8m) to Diag Human for damaging the company抯 reputation after a failed business deal in the early 1990s and is being sued for further financial losses.
Dr Souckova was health minister until she was sacked last April by the then prime minister, Vladim韗 妏idla. She is aged 51 and faces two to eight years in prison if found guilty. State attorney, Tomas Blaha, said that the former minister had been charged over agreeing a contract with lawyer Zdenek Novacek to represent the ministry in the court case without tendering for legal services.
Under the terms of the contract, Dr Novacek stood to earn 170m korunas if the state won the case and at least 10m korunas whether he won or lost. "There is a suspicion of criminal activity in relation to the signature of a contract between the Health Ministry and the lawyer, Dr Novacek," Mr Blaha said. But he declined to give any more details about the charges brought.
In the early 1990s, shortly after the end of the communist regime in the then Czechoslovakia, Diag Human planned to start trading in blood plasma from the country抯 blood transfusion banks. But after critical statements about the company were made by the then health minister, Martin Bojar, the deal was scrapped. The Czech government was ordered to pay 327m korunas to the company as compensation for harming its good name.
Furthermore, the state faces the threat of having to pay the Czech company up to 6bn korunas more as Diag Human is seeking further compensation for commercial losses. Dr Souckova had insisted that the state would win the case against Diag Human and that it would get back the money that it had already paid.
The Health Ministry declined to comment on charges being brought against Dr Souckova. "We cannot interfere with the ongoing investigations by making any comment," spokeswoman Vera Carna said. "As well as the police investigation there is also a parliamentary commission investigating the Diag Human case."
Dr Souckova was sacked last year amid much criticism by doctors and politicians for failing to push through much needed health reforms. She was uncontactable.
Dr Novacek meanwhile says that he wants to sue the state for the money he says he is owed after the ministry withdrew from the contract last May. The Czech Bar Association has begun disciplinary proceedings against Dr Novacek for breaching its code and professional standards, particularly rules of professional ethics.(Prague Katka Krosnar)