Latest news with #PetrFiala
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Czech justice minister quits after accepting US$44m in bitcoins from ex-drug dealer, insists he was ‘not aware of any unlawful acts'
PRAGUE, May 31 — Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek said yesterday he would step down after coming under fire for accepting almost a billion Czech koruna (RM187 million) in bitcoins from a drug dealer. Blazek's ministry received the money from a man who had served four years in prison for embezzlement, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of a gun until 2021. It received the cryptocurrency this year and sold it for Czech korunas in auctions, Blazek said. The origin of the money is unknown but Blazek said courts never proved it came from any criminal activity. 'I am not aware of any unlawful acts. But I don't want to tarnish the reputation of the governing coalition,' he said on X yesterday. Police are investigating the donation over a suspected abuse of power and money laundering. Blazek, 56, is a member of the right-wing Civic Democratic Party of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who leads a centre-right governing coalition formed after a 2021 election. The opposition called on Blazek to resign after news about the gift appeared on Wednesday. Fiala said on X he was convinced that Blazek had acted 'in good faith' and appreciated his resignation as a 'responsible step'. The Czech Republic, an EU and Nato member of 10.9 million people, is bracing for a general election scheduled for October 3 and 4. The opposition ANO movement of billionaire ex-premier Andrej Babis is tipped to win as its backing in polls tops 30 per cent, way ahead of Fiala's second-placed Civic Democrats with some 20 per cent. — AFP
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Czech justice minister quits after accepting US$44m in bitcoins from ex--drug dealer, insists ‘not aware of any unlawful acts'
PRAGUE, May 31 — Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek said yesterday he would step down after coming under fire for accepting almost a billion Czech koruna (RM187 million) in bitcoins from a drug dealer. Blazek's ministry received the money from a man who had served four years in prison for embezzlement, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of a gun until 2021. It received the cryptocurrency this year and sold it for Czech korunas in auctions, Blazek said. The origin of the money is unknown but Blazek said courts never proved it came from any criminal activity. 'I am not aware of any unlawful acts. But I don't want to tarnish the reputation of the governing coalition,' he said on X yesterday. Police are investigating the donation over a suspected abuse of power and money laundering. Blazek, 56, is a member of the right-wing Civic Democratic Party of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who leads a centre-right governing coalition formed after a 2021 election. The opposition called on Blazek to resign after news about the gift appeared on Wednesday. Fiala said on X he was convinced that Blazek had acted 'in good faith' and appreciated his resignation as a 'responsible step'. The Czech Republic, an EU and Nato member of 10.9 million people, is bracing for a general election scheduled for October 3 and 4. The opposition ANO movement of billionaire ex-premier Andrej Babis is tipped to win as its backing in polls tops 30 per cent, way ahead of Fiala's second-placed Civic Democrats with some 20 per cent. — AFP
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Czech justice minister resigns over a donated bitcoin scandal
PRAGUE — Czech Republic Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned from his post over a bitcoin-related scandal on Friday. Blažek was under fire from the opposition after his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoins and sold them for about 1 billion Czech koruna (more than $45 million) earlier this year. Blažek said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing, but didn't want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be harmed by the scandal. Fiala said that he appreciated his resignation and believed that Blažek acted with goodwill.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Czech justice minister resigns over a donated bitcoin scandal
PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Republic Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned from his post over a bitcoin-related scandal on Friday. Blažek was under fire from the opposition after his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoins and sold them for about 1 billion Czech koruna (more than $45 million) earlier this year. Blažek said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing, but didn't want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be harmed by the scandal. Fiala said that he appreciated his resignation and believed that Blažek acted with goodwill. Blažek was a close ally of Fiala in the government, and also in his conservative Civic Democratic Party. It's not clear who might replace him. The issue focused on the fact that the bitcoins were donated to the ministry by a person who was previously convicted of drug dealing and other crimes. The opposition has accused Blažek of possible money laundering, because it wasn't clear where the bitcoins came from. It was also not clear why the person donated the bitcoins to the ministry. The issue has been investigated by the police organized crime unit. The scandal took place just months before the Oct 3-4 parliamentary election. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is predicted to win the vote.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Czech justice minister resigns over a donated bitcoin scandal
Czech Republic Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned from his post over a bitcoin-related scandal on Friday. Blažek was under fire from the opposition after his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoins and sold them for about 1 billion Czech koruna (more than $45 million) earlier this year. Blažek said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing, but didn't want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be harmed by the scandal. Fiala said that he appreciated his resignation and believed that Blažek acted with goodwill. Blažek was a close ally of Fiala in the government, and also in his conservative Civic Democratic Party. It's not clear who might replace him. The issue focused on the fact that the bitcoins were donated to the ministry by a person who was previously convicted of drug dealing and other crimes. The opposition has accused Blažek of possible money laundering, because it wasn't clear where the bitcoins came from. It was also not clear why the person donated the bitcoins to the ministry. The issue has been investigated by the police organized crime unit. The scandal took place just months before the Oct 3-4 parliamentary election. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is predicted to win the vote.
