Motol bribery case: businessman says CZK 1 million was for director

Businessman František Vaněk has told police that he paid a bribe of CZK 1 million intended for the former director of Prague’s Motol hospital, Miloslav Ludvík. He gave his testimony at an interrogation on Monday, 19 October, as part of the Motol corruption case, according to the interrogation record.

An envelope for the director

According to Vaněk, in September 2024 he brought an envelope of cash to the office of deputy director Pavel Budinský. It was payment for a ten-year contract to launder hospital linen. “I stress that I gave this bribe,” he told investigators. By his account, the money was meant for Ludvík, and he acted at Budinský’s request, who made a “firm demand”.

In 2017, Vaněk’s company Pragoperun won a contract for “laundry optimisation” worth CZK 135 million. Police consider this contract one of many that were paid for. In total, 18 people and seven companies have been charged in the case. Ludvík and Budinský spent about 11 months in custody and, once the case goes to court, face up to 12 years in prison.

Vaněk admitted guilt immediately after his detention in February last year, but at the time he did not mention the director. Ludvík’s name came up only in April: Vaněk himself was not present when the money was handed over, and it was Budinský who told him the sum had reached the director. In addition, he says he sent Budinský a further two to three million crowns for the same contract through another company.

What Ludvík says

The former director categorically denies receiving any money: “I received nothing.” He points out that at the first interrogation Vaněk did not mention him at all. Budinský does not speak to journalists, but after his release from custody in January he hinted that this is merely the police’s version of events. Ludvík has previously said he will bring five witnesses to court and present at least two documents in his defence.

The police file includes a camera recording from Budinský’s office: according to investigators, it shows Ludvík receiving an envelope of money from him for the laundry contract.

The pavilion renovation and the disputed CZK 85 million

Ludvík and Budinský are also charged in connection with the renovation of the hospital’s main building, worth more than CZK 1 billion. According to investigators, they wanted to approve a CZK 85 million cost increase for the construction firm Geosan Group and receive CZK 5 million each for it. Police rely on covert surveillance of a dinner between Ludvík and the firm’s management at a Prague restaurant, and on recordings of Budinský’s meetings with a Geosan representative at a Vietnamese restaurant.

Ludvík claims that ten million was never discussed at the dinner and that he did not take part in the second meeting. He says he argued fiercely with the firm over rising costs, and that the hospital had already notified Geosan through its lawyers, before the arrests, that the additional CZK 85 million would not be paid. The firm is now demanding the money through civil lawsuits, but under court rulings that are not yet final it has no claim to it. Police also allege that Ludvík was promised a four-room flat in a new building in Břevnov for the contract. He confirms he wanted to buy it, but the deal fell through because of another buyer.

Jaroslav Ibehej, a spokesman for the National Centre against Organised Crime, said that statements by the accused are not commented on during proceedings and that the evidence will be examined in court, not in the media.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz