Czech anti-corruption police are investigating a corruption scandal which involves a dozen former Defense Ministry staff, local media reported Friday.
Police said 51 people are accused of connection with fraudulent tenders for the ministry's projects, mainly small construction and reconstruction works, maintenance of property, heating and cleaning in 2005 and 2006.
The deceitful bids were worth 300 million crowns (13.56 million U.S. dollars), Xinhua reported.
Defense Ministry spokesman Andrej Cirtek said one third of the accused are former ministry staff and the rest are from the private sector.
Out of the 51 accused, 18 are being prosecuted for criminal conspiracy. If convicted, they will be sentenced to up to ten years in prison or forfeiture of property.
More people are expected to be accused for linkage with the case, said the police.
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