Police search Czech Academy of Sciences headquarters over suspected fictitious contracts

Since this morning, officers from the National Organized Crime Agency (NCOZ) have been conducting a search at the headquarters of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. According to police, investigators are gathering evidence at the building, although the Prague Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office has not yet launched formal criminal proceedings in the case.

Reports indicate that investigators are seizing documents and financial records in connection with suspected fictitious work contracts. According to a source, the case involves sums exceeding ten million koruna — with invoices allegedly issued for work that was never actually carried out.

Academy declines to comment

The Academy's leadership confirmed the police visit took place but declined to go into detail. Academy spokeswoman Markéta Růžičková stated that the Academy of Sciences and the management of the institution's General Activities Centre are providing the police with all necessary cooperation, but that no further comment on the search or its circumstances would be made while the investigation is ongoing.

NCOZ spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej confirmed that agency investigators are indeed working at the building, but noted that the right to officially disclose details about the case rests with the Prague Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office.

Case still at the review stage

Prosecutor's Office spokesman Aleš Cimbala explained that the investigation is currently at the initial stage of preliminary proceedings, known as a review. According to him, the purpose of this stage is to establish and verify facts reasonably indicating that a crime has been committed. No formal criminal prosecution has been opened so far, and no one has been charged.

According to a source, investigators suspect that the Academy of Sciences was billed for work under service contracts that was never actually performed, with the sums involved in these transactions reaching tens of millions of koruna.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz