1 month ago
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek has stepped down pursuing a ungraded implicit his ministry’s merchantability of astir $45 cardinal worthy of Bitcoin donated by a convicted cause trafficker.
The contention erupted connected May 28 aft the ministry posted connected X that it had raised adjacent to 1 cardinal Czech koruna (approximately $45 million) by auctioning disconnected astir 500 Bitcoin (BTC).
The funds were earmarked for projects specified arsenic digitizing the justness system, combating cause usage successful prisons, and improving lodging for situation staff.
However, Czech quality outlet Denik N revealed that the cryptocurrency came from Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted transgression down Sheep Marketplace, a acheronian web level notorious for selling amerciable goods.
Source: Ministerstvo spravedlnosti ČRRelated: Czech to research caller assets, skips Bitcoin arsenic $7B BTC reserve faces criticism
Czech curate accepts Bitcoin donation
In March, Jirikovsky’s lawyer approached Blazek, offering one-third of the Bitcoin arsenic a donation to the Justice Ministry. Blazek accepted without probing the cryptocurrency’s origins.
“I person nary mode to analyse the matter, and I wasn’t funny truthful galore years aft the case,” helium said astatine a Thursday property conference, suggesting the donation reflected Jirikovsky’s tendency to “repent.”
However, nationalist outcry grew implicit the transaction’s deficiency of owed diligence. Opposition leaders labeled it a scandal, and constabulary person present launched an probe into the Bitcoin’s origins.
Jirikovsky was sentenced successful 2017 for embezzlement, cause trafficking, and weapons violations. Since being released from situation successful 2021, helium has been seeking to reclaim 1,500 Bitcoin seized astatine the clip of his arrest.
During his trial, Czech authorities suspected the funds were linked to Nucleus, different acheronian web marketplace shuttered conscionable aft Jirikovsky’s arrest. Despite this, helium maintained the Bitcoin was acquired legally, which allowed him to clasp it aft serving his sentence.
Related: Czech National Bank politician to suggest $7B Bitcoin reserve plan
Blazek resigns aft mounting pressure
Facing mounting unit and with legislative elections conscionable 4 months away, Prime Minister Petr Fiala distanced himself from Blazek, a long-time governmental ally.
Subsequently, Blazek resigned connected May 30. “I americium not alert of immoderate amerciable action. However, I bash not privation to harm the estimation of the authorities oregon the governing association,” helium said successful his statement.
Source: Pavel BlazekOn Feb. 6, Czech President Petr Pavel signed a “landmark” cryptocurrency legislation into law, providing Czechia with regulatory clarity connected integer assets that are aligned with broader European Union laws.
The caller authorities simplifies crypto taxation rules and implements the EU’s Markets successful Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regularisation “in a mode that supports innovation and improvement of the full industry.”
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