Prosecution of Náchod's deputy mayor and architect Tušl has been canceled

Hradec Králové - The Regional State Prosecutor's Office in Prague has dismissed the criminal prosecution of the deputy mayor of Náchod, Tomáš Šubert (Patriots of Náchod), and Hradec architect Pavel Tušl. The Náchod City Hall administration informed ČTK about this in a statement, and Tušl confirmed the information. The police charged them last year in connection with the allegedly overpriced purchase of furniture for the new headquarters of the Hradec Králové region. Šubert was a member of the regional council for the ODS until 2008, while Tušl designed the building.
    Both men were accused of committing a criminal offense of collusion in a public tender and public auction. Šubert was also charged with the abuse of power of a public official. "From the justification of the annulment resolution, it follows that it cannot be concluded that Tomáš Šubert's actions fulfilled the elements of any of these criminal offenses. Thus, he did not commit any act that would cause harm to another or procure benefit for himself or another," states today's statement from the Náchod City Hall administration, which is available to ČTK.
    Both defendants disagreed with the initiation of criminal prosecution and filed a complaint with the Regional State Prosecutor's Office in Prague. On December 31, it annulled the police's decision to initiate criminal prosecution from December 1, 2010. "I welcome the decision of the state prosecutor's office in this matter," Tušl told ČTK today. Šubert also welcomed the decision. "I hope that this whole matter ends for me now," said Šubert.
    In the case of the furniture purchase for the Hradec Králové region, the police had already prosecuted five former regional councilors and a former official of the Hradec Králové region last year, one of the accused being the former governor Pavel Bradík (ODS). The District State Prosecutor's Office in Hradec Králové stopped their prosecution in May. The police then stated that the criminal proceedings in this matter would continue, and the police would further investigate the case.
    The anti-corruption police suspected the six of the criminal offense of breaching duties in the administration of foreign property in the third paragraph, with a potential prison sentence of two to eight years for the accused if proven guilty. The charges were raised in connection with the acquisition of furniture for 36 million crowns for the newly built regional headquarters. The police assert that it is not atypical furniture and that the region allegedly incurred damages of over five million crowns.
    The Hradec Králové region will pay nearly 1.9 billion crowns for its headquarters in the former brewery complex over a twenty-year lease. The reconstruction lasted from April 2005 to October 2007. It is the largest investment project of the region and probably the most expensive headquarters for officials in the entire country.