After almost a year and a number of main trials, the Regional Court in Zlín has now issued a verdict. Even before that, Tlusťák asked the court panel for a lighter sentence.
“I would like to ask the court to make the punishment more educational. I am willing to pay three to four million in damages,” said the car racer in his closing speech.
The Senate of the regional court was adamant and sentenced Tlusťák to five and a half years in prison.
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Photo: Aleš Fuksa, Law
A car racer leaves the courtroom of the Regional Court in Zlín
He was threatened with five to ten years behind bars for reducing taxes, fees and similar mandatory payments. The judgment is not final.
According to the court, Tlusťák, as an executive, board member or representative of various companies, evaded taxes. According to state representative Pavlína Nesvadbová, he carried advertisements of other companies on his racing cars, for which he received financial compensation. However, according to the plaintiff, he compensated for the associated tax liability of the companies for which he acted with fictitious inputs and fictitious costs. According to her, it was, for example, spare parts.
Photo: Aleš Fuksa, Law
Antonín Tlusťák (center) in the courtroom
According to the public prosecutor, Dalibor Šerý, Veronika Vágner and Zdeněk Juha, who are also defendants in the case, issued fictitious invoices to Tlusťák. According to the indictment, the racer also helped Vágner cut her company’s taxes.
While Šerý, like Tlusťák, confessed to the crime before the court, the other defendants stated through their defense attorneys that they felt innocent.
The vice-champion of Europe in the rally for the year 2010 denied that the obtained money was used to enrich him or to accumulate property. “I’m sorry for what happened. I did not understand the consequences of my actions and actions,” said Tlusťák. He also stated that he is trying to compensate for the damage caused.