A court in Prague has found a former aide to Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš guilty of fraud, issuing a three-year suspended sentence along with financial penalties on Monday.
Jana Nagyová, who now serves in the European Parliament, was convicted in connection with a $2 million scheme involving misused European Union funding. While Babiš faced charges in the same case, he escaped sentencing after Czech lawmakers voted in March against removing his legal immunity.
The billionaire politician, who started his third term as prime minister in December, has dismissed the charges as “clearly politically motivated.” Due to the parliamentary protection, any potential trial for Babiš must wait until his current term concludes in 2029.
Prague’s Municipal Court ordered Nagyová to pay 500,000 Czech crowns, equivalent to approximately $24,000. The European Parliament had previously voted to remove her immunity, allowing the prosecution to proceed.
Nagyová maintains the right to challenge the ruling through an appeal process.
The fraud centered on a property called the Stork’s Nest farm, which obtained EU funding after being moved from Babiš’s Agrofert business empire to his relatives. The company later regained control of the operation.
These particular subsidies targeted smaller businesses, making Agrofert ineligible for the funding. The conglomerate has since repaid the money.
Babiš regained leadership following his ANO (YES) party’s strong showing in October elections, creating a coalition government with the anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the right-wing Motorists group.
The new government plans to reduce Czech support for Ukraine and oppose certain European Union initiatives.
