Rokycany blogger on trial in Plzeň over used Škoda Octavia video

A 28-year-old blogger from the Rokycany district appeared on Monday before the Regional Court in Plzeň over a video in which he disparaged a used car and the car dealership selling it. The prosecutor accuses him of violating competition protection rules. The dealership owner, Petr Šeller, is seeking damages of more than two million crowns from the blogger, Horáček.

According to prosecutor Pavel Hajný, inaccurate and biased claims in the clip, which tens of thousands of people watched within a week, could have harmed the owner’s business. “The accused filmed a video inspection of a Škoda Octavia RS with commentary containing unprofessional and defamatory criticism of both the car itself and the dealership and its owner, whom he liberally showered with profanity,” the prosecutor said.

The expert would recommend buying it

In the clip, Horáček claimed that the car, which the dealership describes as roadworthy, had been repainted after an accident and had rusty brake discs, worn-down pads and deformed wheel rims. However, court expert Jiří Vachal confirmed that the car has no serious defects and called the information published by the accused untrue. He himself, on the contrary, would recommend buying such a car.

“It really has been repainted, but only to improve its appearance. None of the metal body parts are deformed, repaired, replaced or straightened anywhere. The mileage is consistent as well,” presiding judge Tomáš Bouček said, quoting the expert’s findings.

The hearing revealed that Horáček posted the controversial recording on the TikTok profile of the company Autobezobalu, which, among other services, offers to inspect the condition of a used car before purchase. According to the accused, he acted on the instructions of the firm’s owner, Martin Landgraf.

“I got nothing out of it”

“He was the only one who got any benefit and enjoyment from this video. He was delighted by the reach and by who was commenting on it. I got nothing out of it,” Horáček told the court. He admitted that the crude language aimed at the dealership owner was inappropriate and said he regrets it. But he still stands by what he said about the car: “I still believe its technical condition at the time of the inspection did not match the purchase price.”

The negative video also affected the dealership’s customers. The prosecutor mentioned that one buyer backed out of purchasing an Audi A8 for two million crowns because of it, which meant a larger financial loss.

The head of Autobezobalu said he had sent the accused to inspect the car. “I saw the video only after it had already been posted on social media. Some parts were indeed over the line. I immediately ordered it taken down and ended my cooperation with the author,” Landgraf responded.

The hearing will continue with the questioning of the dealership owner and other witnesses.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz