RMD Managers & Construction: Vietnam, Rugby, New York
- Olomouc, Czech Republic - What appears to be a series of exotic vacations enjoyed by state road officials is now under intense scrutiny as part of a sprawling...
- Detectives are meticulously examining what thay believe are "above-standard relations" between certain state road administrators and construction companies.
- The National Center against Organized crime has been investigating a network of construction company managers, politicians, and road workers linked to the Olomouc regional governor for three years.
Road Officials’ “Normal Holidays” Under Scrutiny in Corruption Probe
Olomouc, Czech Republic - What appears to be a series of exotic vacations enjoyed by state road officials is now under intense scrutiny as part of a sprawling corruption investigation. While Martin Smolka, director of the Olomouc branch of the Road and Motorway Directorate (RMD), insists his 16-day trip to Vietnam was a ”normal holiday I paid from my money,” police investigators are far from convinced.
Detectives are meticulously examining what thay believe are “above-standard relations” between certain state road administrators and construction companies. The central question: did these relationships cross the line into bribery and the manipulation of lucrative contracts?
The National Center against Organized crime has been investigating a network of construction company managers, politicians, and road workers linked to the Olomouc regional governor for three years. This initial investigation, dubbed “Autostrada,” alleges bribes totaling a staggering 46 million Czech crowns.
Now, the investigation has widened to include the state RMD. Investigators are poring over concrete evidence, including photographs seized during searches. These images depict RMD officials in lavish settings, raising serious questions about the source of their funding and the nature of their relationships with construction firms.
One such photograph shows Jiří Vavreček, head of the RMD center in ivanovice na hané, enjoying the high life on a Singapore hotel rooftop. When contacted by Seznam Zprávy, Vavrečka curtly dismissed the inquiry, stating, “I am not interested,” before abruptly ending the call.
The focus on these “normal holidays” intensified after evidence emerged suggesting that Tomáš Tomanec and Roman Láčík, former managers of construction giant PORR, allegedly financed foreign trips for RMD officials. According to sources familiar with the investigation, these officials were “repeatedly invited to luxury tours and stays, which were at least partially paid for.”
The investigation is ongoing, and the stakes are high. If proven, these allegations could expose a deep-seated culture of corruption within the state road administration, shaking public trust and potentially leading to meaningful legal repercussions for those involved. The question now is whether these ”normal holidays” were simply that, or a carefully orchestrated scheme to influence the awarding of public contracts.