Former Czech MP Charged with Bribery

Former Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas has been charged with bribery in connection with a scandal that brought down his government in June 2013.

The bribery allegations  brought about the fall of Necas' centre-right coalition government, triggering early elections in October, which were won by the center-left Social Democrats of new Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

Necas allegedly helped bribe ex-lawmakers from his Civic Democratic Party, who agreed to resign from parliament in exchange for lucrative posts in state-owned companies. The MPs in return promised to vote in favor of a tax bill which they opposed.

Josef Lzicar, Necas' attorney, informed that the former Czech Prime Minister denied any wrongdoing.

The three former MPs from the Civic Democratic Party were charged with corruption as well, but the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court because of their lawmakers' immunity.