Gripen corruption probe deepens

Posted on: Mar. 8th, 2007 || Source: praguepost.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Gripen corruption probe deepens

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Kavan has become the biggest casualty in the mounting corruption scandal over the Czech Republic's acquisition of 14 Gripen fighters in 2005.
As Czech police reopen investigations into the case, Kavan and others could face tough questions, and even tougher consequences.

In a hidden-camera report aired on Swedish Television Feb. 27, Kavan said politicians from all major parties — the then-governing Social Democrats (ČSSD), opposition Civic Democrats (ODS) and the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) — were involved in corruption. He also said a number of top Czech politicians have accepted bribes in the Gripen deal, worth 19.6 billion Kč ($918.5 million).

Swedish and British journalists approached Kavan last December, posing as British investigators involved in the case.

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