PRAGUE “We went to Prague’s Anděl to a pizzeria. It was said there that the land was to be auctioned for 29 million crowns. ”So on Wednesday, a witness who had not yet been heard was described to the District Court for Prague 2 in his meeting with Petr Smetka. It was for the mentioned amount that the Rabyně complex near the Slapy dam, which was owned by the convicted founder of H-System, was actually sold.
Apartments from bankruptcy after the bankrupt H-System will be able to buy the current owners 20 to 25 percent cheaper |
Although more than twenty years have passed since the tunneling of H-System, it is still unresolved how to compensate almost a thousand of its clients. Many lost lifetime savings in the project. The court is in dispute over the confiscated property of the founder of the H-System, Petr Smetka (viz box). On one side is Luděk Fabinger, the current owner of land in a lucrative tourist location near Slapy, who won the Rabyně complex at auction fifteen years ago. On the contrary is public prosecutor Boris Havel, who is convinced that Fabinger came to the property on the banks of the Vltava after a staged auction; according to him, the bidders were agreed in advance.
Tuning or auction?
Last year, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial and new testimony. At the same time, one of them was heard in the courtroom on Wednesday, during the interrogation of Milan Hnilica. The motorsport fan, in which Fabinger was also involved, described what he witnessed years ago. “Mr. Smetka presented a proposal to Mr. Fabinger on Rabyn. That it is possible to buy the complex and buildings. That there will be an auction in December. And that it will be auctioned for the amount of twenty-nine million thirty thousand crowns, which surprised me, “Hnilica said in court, saying that the price came to him low, but he allegedly did not interfere in the negotiations. Hnilica attended the meeting because, according to his words, he wanted Fabinger to help with the media coverage of car races, which he himself co-organized. In addition to Smetka and Fabinger, Václav Bervid, who also organized races, also took part in the meeting, according to the witness.
The bankruptcy trustees divide the H-System houses in Horoměřice into flats, and their sale will bring in more money |
According to the witness, the meeting took place in November 2005 in a pizzeria opposite the Anděl metro stop. It was only a few weeks before the Rabyna auction. On Wednesday, Fabinger refused to negotiate a price at the upcoming auction. “It’s bullshit. The meeting took place, but Mr. Hnilica was never present. The meetings were about one or two. It was about sponsoring the tuning of the BMW triple series. Mr. Bervid sought me out and came with Smetka. One meeting was for Žofín for the same purpose, where Smetka was no longer. But Bervid told me that the premises in Rabin would be auctioned if I wasn’t interested, “he told LN after the trial. Fabinger said he saw the case as a marketing campaign by politician and lawyer Hana Marvanová. The Prague councilor has long represented damaged clients through the H-System. She attended the hearing on Wednesday. Among other things, she came up with the idea of hearing Hnilica’s witness. “It resulted from the proposal of Dr. Marvanová, the representative of the victims,” the plaintiff Havel confirmed, adding that when Marvanová is proposing, it has its meaning, which was shown in court.
In good faith
Havel did not hide his disappointment at the auction, which took place, although it was owned by the prosecutor’s office and was not allowed to be used. “I consider that the execution of the official decision securing the property that was to belong to the injured clients of the tunneled H-System could not be thwarted by this friendly auction. Today we are in a situation where the purpose for the injured is almost thwarted. But I will continue to fight, “he said after the trial. He demands that the court hear all five participants in the auction and the already mentioned Bervid.
Land near Slap was sold for 29.03 million crowns, although according to estimates, the value of the area was more than 60 million crowns. The District Court for Prague 2 ruled in 2018 on the forfeiture of the state premises, and the Municipal Court in Prague confirmed this last year. However, the Supreme Court subsequently granted Fabinger’s appeal. According to him, the state did not prove that Fabinger did not acquire the complex in good faith.
Petr Smetka is asking in court for release
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TRACKING JUSTICE■ Founded H-System Petr Smetka in 1993. The company concluded contracts with hundreds of interested parties for the construction and transfer of flats and houses in the vicinity of Prague. In 1997, it went bankrupt, completing only 34 houses. At least 1,095 people lost 980 million crowns. Smetka spent 12 years in prison for tunneling the company. He was released in October 2016. ■ According to the applicant, it was on the premises in Rabyn police seal since 2001. It was the only property of Smetka. In 2005, however, it was illegally auctioned, and Luděk Fabinger became the owner. Although the District Court for Prague 2 and the Municipal Court in Prague have confirmed that the complex is to fall to the state, the Supreme Court has returned the case for a new hearing. – |
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