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Czech police complete large-scale operation

Аll suspects detained
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

PRAGUE, June 14 (Itar-Tass) - Head of the organized crime unit of Czech police Robert Slachta said the large-scale operation carried by his unit on Wednesday and Thursday has been completed.

"We've detained everybody who had to be detained," he said. Slachta explained that the operation had to be launched quickly on Wednesday evening, as one of the suspects planned to travel abroad. He denied any political motive behind his subordinates' actions. The task was not to engage in the politics of some political party, he said.

In all, seven persons were detained. The main suspect is head of the prime minister's office Jana Nagyova, whom the mass media dubbed the premier's "right hand."

Organized crime police said she had coordinated the illegal activity by the leadership of military intelligence who had put the prime minister's wife under surveillance. She was reportedly behind the decision by three legislators -- whom the ruling party regarded as unwelcome - to give up their mandates in exchange for posts in state-owned companies.

Taking part in the operation were some 400 police, reports said Thursday. They searched offices at the defense ministry and several firms.

A number of Opposition politicians said the whole Cabinet would resign and that the country was facing an early parliamentary election.

It took the interior ministry about two years to prepared the large scale operation. It tapped and recorded hundreds of telephone conversations of officials, politicians and business persons, CT24 /Czech Television 24/ reported.

The ministry set up an organized crime unit in 1995. It fights corruption, weapon and explosive trafficking, terrorism and illegal migration. The unit has been led by Robert Slachta since 2008.