Czech ex-Premier Babis acquitted in EU funds fraud case

By The Associated Press on January 9, 2023.

Former Czech Republic's Prime Minister and Presidential candidate Andrej Babis arrives for a trial at the municipal court in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Andrej Babis went on trial on Wednesday in a $2 million fraud case involving European Union subsidies. Babis will run for President in the upcoming election later in January. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

PRAGUE (AP) – A Prague court on Monday acquitted former Prime Minister Andrej Babis of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving European Union subsidies.

A prosecutor requested a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of 10 million Czech koruna ($440,000) for the populist billionaire.

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

Share this story: