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'Pirate of Prague' freed from jail in the Bahamas

Czech authorities miss their chance to pursue second man on the lam

By Hilda Hoy
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
May 9th, 2007 issue

While the pursuit of fugitive Radovan Krejčíř took a new turn in Africa, on the other side of the world, the pursuit of another wanted Czech abroad took its own odd twist.

Viktor Kožený, dubbed the “Pirate of Prague,” has been jailed in the Bahamas since October 2005 while courts have heard extradition proceedings against him. But he was unexpectedly freed April 27.
He’s wanted by Czech authorities, accused of financial fraud worth 16 billion Kč during reforms following the fall of communism here. But an extradition request was filed first by the United States, where he’s accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars from investors.  
The Bahamian court granted extradition to the United States last year, but Kožený, now an Irish citizen, appealed. The appeal hearing was scheduled for April 30.
He was released on $300,000 (6.2 million Kč) bail April 27 because the U.S. lawyers had failed to submit required documents on time. “This doesn’t mean the extradition case goes away … but it does mean the U.S. government is having some trouble with their case,” said Douglas McNabb of McNabb Associates, an international law firm specializing in extradition.
While Czech authorities have vigorously pursued the extradition of Krejčíř from South Africa, pursuit of Kožený has lagged.
Because he’s wanted by two countries, “It’s sort of like a race to the courthouse,” McNabb said. “The Americans got to him first.”
Until the U.S. case is decided, the Czech one will wait on the back burner.
But the Justice Ministry could have used the recent lapse in the U.S. case to revive its own, McNabb said. “Somebody’s not being aggressive enough.”
“The Czech Republic sent its extradition request in 2005,” Justice Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Kuncová said. “The Bahamas asked for some additional documents, which were sent this past winter.”
Kožený, in the meantime, is “trying to put his life back together [and] enjoying his liberty,” said his lawyer, Paul Moss.
“He’s been ready. Any delay … has always been on [the U.S.] side,” he said. “He wants to clear his name.”

Hilda Hoy can be reached at hhoy@praguepost.com


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