The arrests are a result of a joint operation between the Special Unit for Combating Organized Crime (ÚOOZ) and the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc, which lasted several months.
Most of the arrested officers were responsible for investigating financial crimes at the police economic crime office in Brno, and are suspected of impeding key investigations into fraud and corruption. The Prague Daily Monitor reports that among those arrested was a former Interior Ministry inspection department officer.
Lidové Noviny, a local newspaper, reports that the suspects allegedly covered up many significant cases going back 10 years.
According to the Czech Position, the suspects are also believed to be linked to the murder of a former police officer last year.
Police Organized Crime Squad (UOOZ) spokesman Pavel Hantak stated that the investigation is still ongoing and more information will be released at the end of the week.
UPDATE:
On Friday, Czech Police revealed more details about the allegedly corrupt ring of current and former police officers arrested earlier this week. According to the Czech Position, authorities said the “Brno Gang” is run by corrupt police officers and has run an extortion ring in the city of Brno for over a decade.
“This was a very serious failure by Czech Police,” said Chief of Police Petr Lessy noting that the gang had operated for 12 years without attracting attention. However he also credits Czech police for finally shutting the ring down.
The gang comprised of police officers working in the financial crimes unit would extort wealthy businessmen by promising to ignore possible corruption charges against them in exchange for money.
Authorities suggested that the corruption may not be limited to the suspects that they have in custody, and that the corruption could be much more prevalent among the police force in Brno.
The investigation was moved from Brno to Prague shortly after it began in order to provide more objectivity and effectiveness to those investigating officers.
The six suspects, which include one current and three former cops along with two other civilians, were detained by police and are being charged with abuse of power, extortion, and membership in an organized crime group.
