Czech gov’t monitoring probe on alleged MRT shakedown

MANILA, Philippines - The Czech Republic is “closely” monitoring the investigation into the alleged $30-million shakedown involving officials of the Metro Rail Transit 3 and a Prague-based company.

Reacting to a report in The STAR, David Frous, deputy director of the ministry’s press department, told news website Praguepost.com that their government is keeping track of the developments in the case involving their ambassador to the Philippines Joseph Rychtar and Czech firm Inekon Group.

“We are following very closely this particular case in the Philippines and obviously our ambassador has been involved as he’s the chief of mission there. He’s been involved talking to a variety of Filipino representatives,” the website quoted Frous as saying.

The website also clarified that Frous said Rychtar “was not acting on behalf” of Inekon, one of the groups that joined the bidding for the P3.8-billion MRT 3 expansion project. The project involves the acquisition of 48 new MRT trains. Currently, MRT 3 has 73 Czech-made trains.

The STAR earlier reported that Rychtar submitted a four-page affidavit to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to formalize his complaint against MRT general manager Al Vitangcol III and his alleged accomplices.

“His affidavit is similar to that submitted by the Inekon group. The ambassador merely reiterated his earlier accusation against some MRT officials, including general manager Al Vitangcol III,” an NBI source said.

In a separate affidavit, Inekon board chairman and chief executive officer Josef Husek accused Wilson de Vera, one of Vitangcol’s alleged middlemen, of asking $30 million from their company. In exchange, Inekon “would be selected as supplier of the tram vehicles and related services.”

The alleged extortion happened in Rychtar’s official residence in Forbes Park, according to Husek.

“This suggestion shocked us, as we did not expect this way of doing business. We tried to explain that any paid sum would inevitably increase the final price of our products and services, because the prices (were) carefully calculated with regard to process of our subcontractors and value of the technology to be used in the project,” Husek said.

The company official added that De Vera left the premises several times to “consult someone” over the phone.