The Radovan Krejcir affair-Seychelles committed to cooperating in investigations |20 October 2005

The fugitive, Radovan Krejcir, is wanted by the Czech authorities for alleged criminal business dealings.

The government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was reacting to an article which appeared in the Prague Daily newspaper, dated 18th October 2005, which quotes the Czech Foreign Minister as suggesting that Seychelles has been uncooperative in the investigations relating to Mr Radovan Krejcir, of duel Czech-Seychellois citizenship.

The Foreign Minister, Cyril Svoboda, was quoted as saying that the Czech Government “may approach the OECD and other international organisations with a view to black listing Seychelles thereby affecting its investment potential”.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the Government of Seychelles has expressed its surprise at the Czech Minister’s statement which it considers “unfounded and regrettable”.

The statement added that a formal objection is being lodged with the relevant Czech authorities.

Noting that the Seychelles authorities have fully cooperated with the Czech authorities on the matter, the statement said that a number of exchanges have taken place, including a visit to Seychelles by two Czech police officers to further consolidate the cooperation between Seychelles and the Czech authorities.

The statement further emphasized that Mr Krejcir obtained his Seychelles citizenship under a valid law in place at the time in Seychelles and his record was cleared by due diligence process through the Czech authorities, which confirmed then that he had no adverse criminal record.

The statement also noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs received last week, an official Notification from the Regional Public Prosecutors Office of the Czech Republic, alleging that Mr Krejcir, “has committed serious economic crimes within the Czech Republic”.

Furthermore, the statement said, the Ministry has received from the Czech Embassy, a request for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and it has undertaken the necessary steps to provide it with the relevant information. 

“However, it should be firmly emphasized that the Government of Seychelles has not at any stage received a request for the extradition of Mr Krejcir,” the statement said.

“Although there is no formal extradition treaty between the Czech Republic and Seychelles, the Seychellois authorities are reviewing the situation with a view to continue extending its full cooperation with the Czech authorities,” the statement added.

The statement stressed that the Seychelles Government has no intention of harbouring criminals and where sufficient evidence exists, due process of law will ensue.

The statement also noted that a request has been made to the Czech authorities to give consideration to concluding a bilateral Extradition Treaty.