Former Czech PM’s wife acquitted of criminal charges News
Former Czech PM’s wife acquitted of criminal charges

[JURIST] A Czech court in Prague acquitted the wife of former Czech prime minister Petr Necas of charges of abusing military intelligence. Jana Necasova, formerly Jana Nagyova, allegedly used military intelligence to spy on Necas’s former wife when Necasova served as the prime minister’s aide in 2012. A judge for the District Court in Prague ruled [AP report] that Necasova did not act criminally but failed to elaborate on the ruling because of classified information. The court also acquitted three intelligence agents who were charged with ordering the spying, and prosecutors immediately filed an appeal. Necasova was previously found guilty [Reuters report] and given a suspended sentence of one year, but her lawyer appealed that decision.

Former prime minister Petr Necas resigned in June 2013 after the exposure of a widespread corruption scandal, including an affair with Necasova. Necas divorced [AFP report] his wife of over 25 years in August 2013 and married Necasova shortly afterward. Widespread investigations followed, focusing on members of parliament and businessmen. The Czech Supreme Court [official website] ruled in November 2013 that Necas was not entitled to immunity [JURIST report] from prosecution and could could face corruption charges. The election that followed put the Social Democrats back in power in the Czech Republic, and Necas’s own party, the Civic Democratic Party, has struggled to secure votes in elections.