Former Motol Hospital Director and ČUS Head jailed in corruption case

Former Motol University Hospital director Miloslav Ludvík and Czech Union of Sport (ČUS) chairman Miroslav Jansta have been placed in custody as part of an ongoing corruption investigation related to public procurement at the hospital. The court ruled that both men posed a risk of continuing criminal activities or influencing witnesses. A third defendant, believed to be Mykhailo Popovych from the company Midian-Coral, was also placed in custody.

The European Commissioner proposed custody for five out of 17 individuals facing prosecution in the case, with the court still set to rule on one additional suspect. Meanwhile, the Czech Minister of Health, Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09), is expected to announce the hospital’s new leadership within the coming days.

Corruption Allegations and Financial Implications

According to investigators, Jansta assisted Ludvík and his operational and technical deputy, Pavel Budinský, in legalizing bribes received from hospital suppliers. The police have charged the suspects with bribery, subsidy fraud, money laundering, and harming the EU’s financial interests. If convicted, they could face up to 12 years in prison.

Ludvík and Jansta’s lawyer, Josef Monsport, has appealed the custody decision. He argued that Jansta has chosen not to comment on the allegations and disputed the contents of wiretap recordings cited as evidence in the case. Monsport specifically challenged claims that bribes amounting to tens of millions of crowns were accepted in exchange for inflating the cost of reconstructing the hospital’s Blue Pavilion.

The corruption investigation could also jeopardize EU funding for Motol University Hospital projects. If the allegations of misusing EU financial resources are confirmed, the Czech Republic may be denied further EU funding for hospital projects. So far, the government has spent nearly CZK 841 million on the Motol Cancer Institute, which is expected to cost CZK 4.5 billion, with CZK 3.7 billion originally set to come from the EU through the National Recovery Plan (NPO). The hospital is currently working on seven additional projects under the NPO, worth nearly CZK 1 billion.

Government and Institutional Reactions

Health Minister Válek assured that ongoing hospital construction projects would continue as planned. “None of the projects under contract have been halted. These buildings must be completed,” he stated. Válek dismissed Ludvík from his role on Monday, appointing Lucie Valentová-Bartáková, deputy for medical and preventive care, as the hospital’s interim leader.

The scandal has also impacted the Czech Union of Sport (ČUS). The organization’s board is set to meet later this week to discuss interim leadership arrangements. ČUS spokesperson Jiří Uhlíř confirmed that the union remains fully operational and that it has not been officially contacted by investigators regarding the Motol case. Jansta’s detention also does not affect his role as chairman of the Czech Basketball Federation.

Further Investigations and Additional Suspects

Budinský, who also serves as chairman of the Czechoslovak Legionary Community (ČsOL), is facing internal scrutiny, with an extraordinary meeting of the ČsOL Presidency scheduled for 4 March. According to ČsOL’s regulations, membership is revoked upon a final conviction, meaning the assembly may have to decide on his future role.

Among the other high-profile figures implicated in the case is Luděk Kostka, co-owner of Geosan Group, the company responsible for the Blue Pavilion reconstruction. Reports indicate that Geosan’s sales director, Ivan Havel, is also under investigation. Authorities are additionally probing a CZK 3 billion oncology center contract awarded to Olomouc-based construction firm Gemo, whose director, Miloslav Bouda, is believed to be among the accused.

The police are reportedly investigating other hospital contractors involved in cleaning, painting, heating, and maintenance services, raising the possibility of further charges. The case marks one of the most significant corruption investigations in the Czech healthcare sector in recent years, with authorities continuing to examine the full extent of financial misconduct.

Source: CTK
Photo: Fakultní nemocnice v Motole