The government has endorsed the composition and statutes of its new anti-corruption commission, to be headed by Karolína Peake (VV) and comprise seven ministers, including Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (ODS) and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) — whom the VV party was calling upon to resign just months ago. A crucial test of Peake’s resolve to fight corruption will come in late August.

Czech Police have charged Martin Knetig, a former advisor to ex-Environment Minister Pavel Drobil, for “indirect bribery” for allegedly seeking kickbacks for a secret Civic Democrats (ODS) slush fund and to his old boss. Police documents purport to show that in October 2010 Knetig tried to get a member of Komerční banka’s board of directors to sponsor the ODS in exchange for depositing Kč 20 bln of state funds.

Police want to charge Public Affairs (VV) de facto leader Vít Bárta with corruption for allegedly having bribed fellow party members. However, first his MP’s immunity must be lifted, and Prime Minister Petr Nečas (ODS) is reportedly ready to support him. Ironically, VV says in its policy declaration it will strive to abolish MP’s immunity apart from prosecutions relating to parliamentary speeches.

Czech Police have given details of how current and former police officers are believed to have headed a terror and extortion racket in the country’s second city, Brno, that continued operating for 12 years. Three former police officers, one serving officer and two civilians, have been held in custody since members of the suspected gang were detained on Tuesday following an undercover investigation by the special ÚOOZ police squad, the Police Inspectorate, and Public Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc.