Amnesties and pardons
1/21/2005
The President granted the annulment of the remaining sentence of imprisonment, suspended for three years, to Zdenek Melicharik. Mr Melicharik was condemned for embezzlement to serve a 3 years and 6 months prison sentence.
The President of the Republic took into consideration that Mr Melicharik had no personal gain from his criminal act, he had served almost half his sentence and his wife suffers from a severe illness. The Minister of Justice also endorsed the application for a pardon.
The President of the Republic granted Ervin Dux, M.A. the annulment of a suspended sentence, whereby also annulling the sentence. Mr Dux was handed down an 18 months suspended sentence for blackmail because he forced a youth to give his name and the name of the school he attended on the grounds that Mr Dux was convinced that the youth was attempting to get into his parked car.
The President took into account the defendant’s clean record, which the Plzen region commissioner, the deputy Minister of Education and the fellow employees of the condemned person also endorsed.
The President of the Republic annulled the ten-month suspended jail sentence handed down to Karel Zavadil. Mr Zavadil was sentenced to a 10-month suspended sentence for 2 years for failing to comply with his duty to pay alimony for his daughter.
The President also took into consideration that the court in the end came to the conclusion that it is in the interest of Mr Zavadil’s daughter, who is still a minor, for Mr Zavadil to share in her upbringing, and also that Mr Zavadil has in his own care a two-year-old son.
The President of the Republic granted the annulment of the remaining prison sentence suspended for five years to Libor Vitek. Mr Vitek had been sentenced to 8 years for an attempt to murder and damaging someone else’s property. In defending his son who was being threatened he had used means out of proportion to the situation.
Taking into account his hitherto clean record the President came to the conclusion that the punishment he had incurred so far was sufficient. He took this decision in accordance with the opinions of various institutions and people who had supported the application for a pardon, including the Mayoress and the local people where the condemned person lives, the local Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic, the defendant’s employer, the trade union organization and others.
The President of the Republic granted a pardon to Bedrich Hnilica, M. Sc. and annulled the remaining prison sentence. Mr Hnilica had been condemned for embezzlement for a 5 years plus a sentence banning him from conducting a private enterprise entailing the purchase of goods and their further marketing and a ban on selling goods for 5 years, because while operating a petrol station he did not submit the takings on time nor the full amounts. He had already served half the sentence.
The President took into account the particularly complicated family circumstances of the condemned person. Mr Hnilica’s wife had had a nervous breakdown and had attempted suicide and his daughter was also suffering from ill health. The doctor treating the condemned person’s parents, who are also suffering from serious health problems, also expressed himself in favour of granting a pardon.
The President of the Republic annulled a 50-day prison sentence handed down to Vlasta Koutna unconditionally. Ms Koutna was condemned for fraud to undertake 100 hours of public beneficial work, which was then reduced to 50 hours unconditionally, because she and her husband had failed to comply with the legal duty to submit a declaration to the Town Authorities and therefore they had illegally both received social benefits.
The President took into account that Ms Koutna has five children, three of whom are still minors, and that her social circumstances are complicated. According to the information gained from the Department of Social and Health Services she looks after her children well. She has paid back the full amount for which she was indicted.
12/7/2004
The President of the Republic Vaclav Klaus decided to grant pardon to another seven applicants on December 7, 2004. In the majority of cases he was prompted by humanitarian reasons: complicated health problems, the need to care for minors or elder members of the family.
The President of the Republic granted a pardon annulling the entire sentence to Martin Skoda because in this case executing the sentence would fail to comply with the purpose considering the defendant's persisting health problems and need to take care of his mother. M. Skoda was condemned to serve an 8-months sentence unconditionally for not complying with his duty to be recruited. Ultimately it was recognized that he is unfit for military service.
The President of the Republic granted a pardon to Radoslav Strnadel annulling the sentence of imprisonment of 6 months. The sentence was handed down for neglecting to pay alimony and Mr Strnadel paid the sum he owed.
The President of the Czech Republic granted a pardon to Vilem Konecny, M. Sc., app. PhD. annulling a sentence of 7 years on condition that for the duration of the sentence which bans his activities he did not commit a crime intentionally. At the time after the sentence was passed there was a serious deterioration of Mr Konecny's health and the effect of the ban on his activities and the length of the court case was sufficient punishment. Mr Konecny was condemned for fraud. As a court-appointed expert he evaluated precious stones which were later accepted by a bank as security for credit provided to another person.
The President of the Republic granted a pardon to Danuse Latrova, suspending a sixth-month prison sentence for three years. This year in August Ms Latrova's mother died and now she is taking care of her sick father and her daughter who is still a minor. She has already paid off the debt accrued from a neglecting to pay alimony.
The President of the Republic has pardoned Tomas Dvorak his entire sentence of 18 months' imprisonment suspended for three years. The President took into consideration Mr Dvorak's social commitment, including his voluntary work during the floods for which the Mayor of the Prague 8 district thanked him officially. He has fully paid off the debt of 17 thousand crowns which he incurred through embezzlement.
The President of the Republic has pardoned Danuta Zielinska for being sentenced to expulsion. Ms Zielinska was condemned by the former regime for crimes against the interest of the socialist economy. She has already served a prison sentence of 6 weeks. The pardon means she can again travel on the territory of the Czech Republic.
The President of the Republic has pardoned Zbynek Prikryl, M. Sc. his remaining sentence to imprisonment suspended for five years. The crime was not motivated by personal gain, Mr Prikryl himself did not enrich himself; he has paid the fine and takes care of his 80-year-old parents. He was condemned for abusing information in his business relations when as a member of a statutory organ of a company he concluded contracts which the court decided had disadvantaged the firm.
10/11/2004
President of the Republic Vaclav Klaus, in accordance with his constitutional rights, decided on October 11 to comply with the application submitted by Slavoj Hasek who was condemned for the crime of murder.
The President of the Republic reduced the five-year sentence of imprisonment to a suspended sentence. The condemned person apprehended a thief in his yard at night whom he chased and tried to stop. The thief began to threaten him by trying to run him over with his car and by firing at him. Therefore the condemned person shot at the thief with his hunting gun and killed him. The court took into consideration the circumstances and handed down the lowest possible sentence stipulated by law.
The President's attention was drawn to the case by the local authorities and a petition submitted by the local inhabitants. He decided to grant a pardon because he is convinced that in this case the purpose of the punishment was achieved by the actual sentence.
9/7/2004
The President of the Republic Vaclav Klaus, in accordance with his constitutional rights, decided on September 7, 2004, to comply with eight applications for pardon.
Miloslav Bohunek condemned for three years unconditionally for the crime of damaging creditors. By granting him pardon part of his sentence has been annulled subject to a two-year suspension. The President of the Republic took into account the disproportionate length of time of the court case and also the fact that the condemned person had already served part of his sentence and that no damage had been incurred.
Hortensie Karaskova was condemned to three months' imprisonment for the crime of theft. She was given a one year suspended prison sentence. The President granted the pardon for family reasons. The condemned person has in her care three under aged children and a sick father.
Jitka Kofronova was condemned unconditionally for two years for fraud. By granting her a pardon she will not serve the rest of her sentence which is suspended for two years. The President of the Republic granted a pardon for humanitarian reasons since the condemned person has three under aged children, the youngest residing with her in prison.
Rene Niane was condemned to a five year term of unconditional imprisonment for neglecting his responsibility to pay alimony. The President of the Republic has granted a pardon on humanitarian grounds while taking into consideration that a subsequent agreement was concluded between the former married couple and the sum of the debt was paid.
Pavel Jiricek, M. Sc. was condemned unconditionally to three years imprisonment for embezzlement and to a ban on business activities for five years. The President of the Republic granted a pardon with regard to the remaining part of the prison sentence for health reasons, because the condemned person underwent a serious heart operation while in prison.
Myong Sim Ryang, Son Hui Kim, Myong Hui Jang are prosecuted in connection with a conflict with the staff of Czech Television. By granting a pardon the President of the Czech Republic has called for a termination of the prosecution since the harm the Korean workers are liable to incur could be absolutely non commensurate with the damage they caused and which they are willing to compensate.
7/13/2004
The President of the Republic, Vaclav Klaus, in accordance with his constitutional rights, decided on July 13, 2004 to grant a pardon to comply with eleven applications. The President is granting a pardon to the following persons:
Edita Dusickova, née Bubnova who was condemned for fraud to two years unconditional imprisonment. The pardon absolves her from the entire sentence suspended for two years. This is a case of a single parent with two children still minors and she herself suffers from serious health problems. She reimbursed part of the damage she had caused before the sentence was passed.
Svetluse Cerna was condemned unconditionally to five years imprisonment. She is pardoned the rest of her term in jail, suspended for five years. The application was recommended by the Ministry of Justice. Ms Cerna is totally disabled. She has undergone a cancer operation. In the course of the criminal proceedings it was not proven that she had enriched herself by her criminal acts. The sale of her real estate served to reimburse part of the damages.
Zdenek Cihak was condemned unconditionally to five years imprisonment for fraud. The pardon provides for an annulment of the entire prison sentence. The President of the Republic took into consideration his health problems, the long time the court dealt with the criminal case and the fact that Mr Cihak sold the entire company, including his property and debts, and the assignees of this company, who were not brought to trial at all, were the ones that caused the damage to the credit banks.
Zdzislaw Gryzmalski received a five year suspended sentence + confiscation of property + expulsion from the country for a violation of the stipulations regarding the circulation of goods in contacts with foreigners. The President's pardon prevents him from being expelled. The Minister of Justice recommended the pardon. This is a crime committed in 1983. The President took into account the age of the condemned person and the fact that the crime was committed during the previous Communist era.
Petra Kotalikova was condemned unconditionally to six months imprisonment for fraud. The President's pardon applies to the rest of her sentence. The Ministry of Justice recommended the pardon. Ms Kotalikova perpetrated the crime at the age when she was almost still a minor; she fully repaid the damage she had caused. She is the mother of two children for whom she cares alone and she has already served part of her prison sentence.
Jekaterina Savovna Kovalskaja was condemned to three months unconditionally + two years of expulsion for forging official documents. The President's pardon applies to the sentence stipulating expulsion. She has completed her jail sentence and is now in expulsion custody. She has applied for asylum in the Czech Republic and the pardon should permit the application for asylum to be dealt with through the proper channels.
Jitka Kozakova was condemned unconditionally to nine months imprisonment for fraud. She has partially completed her sentence. She is a well caring mother of nine children. The President pardoned the rest of her sentence on humanitarian grounds.
Jiri Lev received a nine months suspended sentence + a ban to drive a car for three years. The President took into account his family and social reasons and on humanitarian grounds pardoned the rest of his sentence forbidding him to drive.
Stanislav Pinkowicz was condemned unconditionally for ten months + expulsion + a sentence confiscating goods for violating regulations concerning the circulation of goods with foreign countries and an infringement of tax regulations. He completed his prison sentence; the pardon applies to the abolition of the expulsion sentence. He committed the crime in 1980, that is to say almost a quarter of a century ago.
Marian Tulej was sentenced for criminal acts for three years and three months in total. He had served a part of the sentence; further execution of the punishment had been than suspended for health reasons. The application to grant pardon was submitted by Home for mentally and physically handicapped youth. The President pardoned M. Tulej from spending the rest of his sentence in prison, while taking into consideration his mental retardation and communication problem. Mr Tulej was diagnosed for malignant tumour and underwent operation.
Zdenek Vambersky was prosecuted because of drunken driving leading to an accident. His prosecution was interrupted back in 1999. The President now terminated his prosecution. The prosecuted man in question suffered severe injury in his car accident and has to rely on assistance and care of another person. The sentence which could have been the outcome of the prosecution would have missed its purpose by comparison with the consequences of the crime - permanent invalidity of the accused who is incapable of attending the court hearing.
6/21/2004
President Vaclav Klaus, in accordance with his constitutional rights, decided on June 21, 2004 to comply with eight applications for pardons. The President of the Republic granted pardon to the following persons:
Pavel Buchta had his sentence banning him from driving revoked. He was sentenced for incurring injury to health. He has been handicapped from birth. He was granted a pardon for health reasons. Considering his handicap he relies on his car to meet with his everyday needs.
Zdenek Havelka had his sentence commuted to an unconditional one year. He was condemned for fraud. He is suspected of having cancer. The pardon was granted for health reasons. Considering his state of health and also the loss of his entire property the implementation of the entire sentence passed down by the court seems too harsh.
Ludek Hurt, discontinue prosecution.
He was condemned for causing grievous bodily harm and being disorderly. Drug addiction, the legal proceedings cannot be finalized because the defendant is permanently incapable of attending the hearings.
Frantisek Pikes, the rest of the sentence is pardoned subject to a 3-year suspension. He was condemned for theft. The pardon was granted for grave health reasons. While serving the prison sentence he suffered an acute stroke, he is confined to a wheel chair, does not speak, he vitally needs the care of a second person. His state of health is incompatible with a prison sentence.
Alexejevna Sediadtsova, the sentence of expulsion is pardoned. She was condemned for theft. The application was submitted by her friend, a Czech Republic citizen who wishes to marry her. He met her at work where she was employed as a labourer. The accusations levelled against her are questionable. She has already served 4 years of her expulsion sentence. She has a background in the Czech Republic.
Radomir Sebesta, his entire reduced prison sentence pardoned.
He was condemned for hijacking an aeroplane and stealing explosives. 20 years have elapsed since the sentence was passed. He lives in exile; a pardon enables him to have contact with his parents. Serving his sentence no longer has any significance.
Katerina Seredova, a sentence reduced to 2 years.
She was condemned for fraud, in part perpetrated, in part at the stage of an attempt. She experienced problematical personal situations. The proceedings suffice for her to make amends. She has two children in her care and employment with prospects. Considering the extensive and repeated criminal acts it is impossible to entirely absolve her from punishment. A marked reduction in the sentence, however, renders the impact more bearable for those concerned.
David Zboril was given a pardon of the sentence banning him from driving. He was condemned for forging and changing official documents. A pardon granted for humanitarian reasons. He is unemployed and his wife has 5 children under 18, the youngest has undergone a bone marrow transplant operation.
4/28/2004
The President of the Republic, Vaclav Klaus, in accordance with his constitutional rights, decided on April 28, 2004 to comply with the request for a pardon submitted by Jiri Hladky, who was condemned for the criminal act of fraud. Mr Hladky committed the crime more than nine years ago; he paid for the not very large amount of damages to the full in the time stipulated by the court. For five years he has been living an honest life abroad.
3/22/2004
Adela Braunova, absolved from staying in prison for the rest of her sentence. She was condemned for the criminal act of fraud. When she was supposed to start serving her prison sentence she was forced to leave her two small children, one of whom she was still breast feeding. Pardon was granted for humane reasons. A number of senators and deputies supported a positive outcome of the application with letters.
Ondrej Gregor absolved from spending the rest of his sentence in prison. He was condemned for murdering his father. This was a desperate defensive reaction to violence at home of a father alcoholic who tyrannized his family. This is the case of a 22-year old who committed the crime at the age of nineteen on an impulse of the moment to protect himself and his mother, The recommendation was made by the Minister of Justice, the family, the mayor of the town of Bystrice pod Hostynem and the mayor of the village of Brusne, the head master of his school, his employer and a number of citizens.
Karel Steiniger, absolved from spending the rest of his sentence in prison. He was condemned for property crimes (fraud, tax evasion). He was granted a pardon since he suffers from an incurable, life threatening carcinoma.
Stanislav Groborz, M. Sc., pardoned from spending the rest of his sentence in prison subject to a suspended sentence of 2 years during which he must not commit an intentional crime. He was condemned for a property crime (tax evasion). A pardon was granted for serious health reasons.
Pavel Kubasek, pardoned from spending the rest of his sentence in prison.
He was condemned for a failure to pay compulsory alimony. He was granted a pardon for serious health reasons. The duty to pay alimony persists.
Bedrich Podolak, pardoned from spending the rest of his sentence in prison, subject to a suspended sentence of one year during which he must not commit an intentional crime. He was condemned for a failure to pay compulsory alimony. He paid the alimony he owed. He was granted a pardon so that he could take proper care of the children who live with him in his home.
Vladimir Liscak, pardoned from spending the rest of his sentence in prison, subject to a suspended sentence of one year during which he must not commit an intentional crime. He was condemned for a failure to pay compulsory alimony. He paid the alimony he owed. He was granted a pardon to enable him to fulfil properly his duty to pay alimony.
Frantisek Vacha, pardoned from spending the rest of his sentence in prison. He was condemned for a failure to pay compulsory alimony. He paid the alimony he owed. He was granted a pardon to enable him to fulfil properly his duty to pay alimony.
Dana Curzydlova, pardoned from spending the rest of her sentence in prison subject to a suspended sentence of 2 years during which she must not commit an intentional crime. She was condemned for burglary which she committed in that she employed physical force in claiming the return of her belongings. She was granted a pardon with a view to the circumstances in which the criminal act was committed and because she cares for a child who is a minor.
1/9/2004
Ales Kmeto, pardoned from his prison sentence. He was condemned for the criminal acts of theft, fraud, unlawfully use of a credit card. While serving his prison sentence he was attacked by a co-prisoner and incurred very serious head injuries with lasting consequences (left-limbs paralyzed). This is a case of a 20-year-old who is permanently disabled.
Oksana Dudova, pardoned from being expulsed. She was condemned for impeding official decisions, because she stayed on the territory of the Czech Republic in spite of a ban. She was granted a pardon in the interest of maintaining family ties because she is married to a Czech with whom she has a three-year-old daughter.
12/10/2003
Josef Zlatohlavek, a suspension of criminal prosecution. The man accused of the crime of theft (in the region of 30,000 Kc). The accused incurred a very serious accident in which he sustained injuries of the cervical cord, transversal spinal injury and paralysis of all limbs and breathing muscles, whereby he has to rely entirely on breathing apparatus. The court itself which was dealing with the case requested his pardon.
Pavel Svediroh has had his sentence revoked. He was condemned for causing bodily harm and making threats under the influence of drugs when involved in a car accident. His two-year suspended prison sentence was deferred for a trial period of 4 years and the rest of the punishment constituted a ban on driving. The condemned person himself was seriously injured (broken vertebra) in the accident and is now entirely bound to a wheel chair.
Zdenek Zmol, pardoned crime. He was condemned for neglecting to pay compulsory alimony. He was granted a pardon of imprisonment to last 8 months. The condemned man takes care of his two children who in the event of his imprisonment would have to be placed in a children's home. The town authorities in Bystrice nad Pernstejnem support his application for a pardon taking into account the family situation and the very good care the condemned father takes of his children.
Vladimir Husak, the sentence pardoned. He was condemned for violating his duties in conducting a tender, for fraud and for failing to pay taxes, social insurance, health insurance and contributions to the state employment policy. He was pardoned prison sentences of 2 and 3 years, suspended for a test period of 3 to 5 years. The pardon for this suspended sentence was granted with a view that the offence was committed at a time of exceptional complications in the functioning of private farmers in the initial stages of economic transformations.
Eliska Bojanovska, the sentence pardoned. She was condemned for the criminal act of evading taxes, fees and similar compulsory payments. A five-year prison sentence was pardoned. The pardon was granted with a view to the measure of guilt on the part of the condemned person, because of the non-existence of her property advantage, because this was a case which occurred back in 1995 and because the condemned person relies fully on an invalid pension and moreover is sole wage earner and takes care of two children not yet of age.
