PRAGUE — Prague’s Excessive Court docket canceled for the second time on Monday a decrease court docket ruling that acquitted former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of fraud fees in a $2 million case involving a European Union subsidy.
The court docket returned the case for retrial to Prague’s Municipal Court docket to take care of it, saying the decrease court docket, which acquitted Babiš for the second time last year, didn’t correctly assess proof.
Babiš had pleaded not responsible and repeatedly stated the costs in opposition to him had been politically motivated. The prosecution had initially requested a suspended sentence and a superb to be paid by the populist billionaire who left the courtroom earlier than the decision was introduced.
The municipal court acquitted Babis for the primary time in 2023. Prague’s Excessive Court docket later canceled that call and ordered the case to be retried on the similar court docket.
Babiš’ former affiliate Jana Nagyová, who signed the subsidy request, may even face retrial.
The case centered round a farm often called the Stork’s Nest, which obtained EU subsidies after its possession was transferred from the Babiš-owned Agrofert conglomerate of round 250 firms to Babis’ members of the family. Later, Agrofert once more took possession of the farm.
The subsidies had been meant for medium- and small-sized companies, which Agrofert wouldn’t have been eligible for. The conglomerate later returned the subsidy.
The decrease court docket beforehand stated what Babiš did was not thought-about legal.
Babi has grow to be a part of the nation’s opposition after his populist ANO (YES) centrist motion misplaced the 2021 parliamentary election. He additionally contended for the largely ceremonial publish of president in January 2023 however misplaced to Petr Pavel, a retired military common.
Monday’s verdict comes simply months earlier than October’s parliamentary election by which Babiš and his motion are predicted to win the vote.