Czech court hands down prison terms in tax and driver‑licence fraud cases

The Municipal Court in Prague sentenced businessman František Savov to nine years in prison for tax evasion and money‑laundering, also imposing a ten‑year ban from serving on company boards and ordering the forfeiture of seized assets worth 98 million crowns. The court said Savov led a group that used shell companies to issue false VAT returns, causing the Czech state a loss of about 653 million crowns. Savov, who lives in the United Kingdom, denied the charges and plans to appeal.

In a separate case, a Czech court reduced sentences for individuals convicted of a scheme involving the illegal issuance of driver’s licences. The court adjusted the penalties but maintained the convictions for the fraud committed in the licence‑granting process.