Czech police must apologise to Romanies

Former Czech police Marek Vrastil and Karel Berousek must apologise to two members of a Romany family for having broken into its flat and attacked some of its members, the Regional Court ruled today.

However, they do not have to pay the compensation of 300,000 crowns as demanded by the family.

Along with another man, the two former police broke into the family’s flat and attacked it in 2003. In 2005, they were sentenced to suspended sentences.

According to today’s verdict, Vrastil and Berousek must send written apologies to the mother and the son, but not to the daughter.

"Vrastil must apologise to two family members for having illegally broken into the flat and stayed there, while he verbally and physically attacked and insulted the family members," judge Vera Adamkova said.

"Berousek has to apologise for having broken into the flat and passively watched Vrastil’s conduct," Adamkova said.
She ruled that the Romany family members did not have the right to financial compensation.

"I am of the view that they were rewarded with satisfaction by the verdict. The behaviour in question did not last long and the injuries were not serious," Adamkova said.

Vrastil was sentenced for breaking and entering to 20 months in prison suspended for four years. He still insists on his innocence.

Berousek received a 12-month sentence suspended for three years.