The police had alleged that they were gang of fraudsters that was involved in money laundering and had been obtaining money from several of their citizens by false pretenses
There are great concerns over the continued detention of some Nigerian nationals in Czech Republic for the past five months, SaharaReporters has learnt.
SaharaReporters gathered that the Czech police on April 12, 2023, busted into the apartment of some Nigerians living the country.
Some of them are students while others have graduated and currently working in various companies.
The police had alleged that they were gang of fraudsters that was involved in money laundering and had been obtaining money from several of their citizens by false pretenses.
Among those arrested were Jonathan Jonah, Abdulsamad Babatunde, Victor Adedeji Abiodun, Oluwafunmisho Mary Olalere, Isaac Ehovuomen Oseoboh, Jerry Efosa Osawaru, and Abdulbasit Ayinde.
Also arrested during the raid was one Czech Republic citizen identified as Lukas Hypsa.
They were all detained, and charged with money laundering.
A few days after their arrest, the court ordered that they should all be remanded in prison “so that they will not interfere with the investigation and not escape from the country.”
All efforts to get them released since then have been rendered useless, a source told SaharaReporters.
However, the Czech Republic citizen, Lukas who was arrested with them was released.
It was gathered that the police became an advocate for their national claiming his innocence whereas the other Nigerians who provided evidences that they knew nothing about the whole alleged crime were tagged to be an organised group.
“It’s so said, they tagged them organized criminals simply because they are Nigerians, even when some of the accused were only meeting or knowing themselves for the first time after the arrest,” a source told SaharaReporters.
“The law as I know stands on a pedestal of equality for everyone. A common platform upon which the law is known to stand is that nobody is guilty until a competent court of law proves otherwise.
“But this is happening due to a lot of injustice, racism, corrupt prosecutors, racial discrimination, manipulation of evidence.”
Narrating what transpired, another Nigerian said, “On April 12th 2023, the Czech police busted into the apartment of ten (10) Nigerians living the Czech Republic. Six (6 ) of them are students and four (4) of them have graduated from School and were currently working in various companies within the Czech Republic.
“The police alleged that they were gang of fraudsters that has have been involved in money laundering and have been obtaining money from several Czech citizens by false pretenses. They were all arrested, detained, and charged with money laundering.
“They were brought to court few days after their arrest. The court ordered that they be remanded in prison so that they will not interfere with the investigation and not escape from the country. All efforts to get them released since then has been rendered useless. This is really shocking despite the complete trust in the Czech Legal System i.e the police and the court system doing justice and following the fundamental human rights principle of fair hearing.
“Particularly the court which ought to be the last hope for common man, justice was expected to be handed by the court in full compliance with the fundamental human rights principle of fair hearing in accordance to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 8 of the Czech Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
“It is indeed surprising and unbelievable that the Police have been very biased in their prosecution of this case, by releasing the Czech persons involved in the case, explaining away in reason for the prosecution of the Czech person, delaying investigation with intent to keep the accused person in prison and engaging in media trial of the case. The court has not helped in correcting the abnormality of the Czech police but has helped the police to continue in the abuse of human rights and their biased prosecution.
“The Court has handled this case with biased opinion and refused to release the accused persons despite adducing all the necessary evidence to assure the court that they won’t interfere with the police investigation and provided surety with bond that they won’t leave the country as well as be present during the prosecution of the case.
“According to the charge sheet that was served on the accused persons there were 11 persons involved in the alleged money laundering and obtaining money from several Czech citizens by false pretenses. As previously mentioned this allegation led to the arrest mentioned in paragraph 1, however, it is important to note that police only arrested 10 out of the 11 alleged involved. This is the first instance of police discriminatory and racial arrest and prosecution in this case.
“It must however be noted that the statement given by Lukas Hypsa was the statement given by eight (8) out of the ten (10) arrested. Whereas the racial and biased opinion of the police already condemned the Nigerian and imprisoned them and went to publish this case in the newspaper with photograph of their arrest. This media trial and unfair comments that were published by Expats.Cz on the 27th of May 2023 address the fact that 10 foreigners were arrested by the Czech Police for Money Laundering.
“It must however be noted that the information shared by the online newspaper is incorrect as it did not state the real issue and how the Czech Police has been vindictive, abusing human rights, racism and engaged in selective prosecution. I wonder why the Czech involved in the case was never mentioned. At this point it seems there is a different law for Czechs and a different ones for foreigners especially those from a certain race.
“It must be noted that at least eight (8) out of the 10 Nigerians arrested by the Czech police were people who carried out their business, schooling and other activities in Czech republic through right and legal means. At least 2 of these 8 mentioned above arrested were victims who personally reported this matter to the police. The police's awareness of the matters was not based on their intelligence and prudent work. This matter came to the police because it was reported by a student who discovered that his account was used by another Student for fraudulent activities.”
“This is the story of at least eight out of the 10 people arrested. The police decided not to listen to them and believe their story because they were Nigerian and made payments to Nigeria therefore, they were organized group. It is important to note that it was one of those arrested that went to the police to inform the police about the unauthorized amount that came into his account which instigated the police into investigating the case. All the investigation led to two people out of the 10 arrested who had the motive and intention to defraud people and use others unknowingly to claim the proceed of their fraud.
“However, the police preferred to believe the testimony of Lukas Hypsa because he is a Czech Citizen and discarded the story of eight (8) other students who were also victim of the crime like Lukas Hypsa because they are Nigerians. It is important to note that not all Nigerians are criminal; this action of the Czech police is vindictive and selective prosecution.
“Without any iota of doubt, a crime has been committed and the role of the Police is to ensure that the criminals are arraigned, punished for the crime committed and protect victims of such crime. Not to punish victims with the criminal. Eight(8) of those which the Czech police have arrested and detained in prison for the past 5 months are victims just like Lukas Hypsa and did not commit the alleged crime. Rather they are victims of the crime themselves.
“The same yardstick used for Lukas Hypsa should be used for these ones as well without any discrimination, biased opinion and in accordance to the law. However, due to the biased prosecution the police have been sluggish with their investigation and only three of the ten arrested have been interrogated. The intention of the police is to keep them in prison in perpetuity regardless of whether they are innocent or not.”
He added that two of the suspects who are ladies have attempted suicide in detention.
“This is unfair and inhuman. It must be noted that due to this abysmal treatment two (2) of the victims who are ladies have attempted suicide while they were in the prison custody because no one deserve such inhuman treatment for the offence they have not committed. The perpetrators have been identified and arrested and are currently in police custody. It is therefore unjust that the victims of the crime should also be detained by the police.
“Their unlawful and prolonged detention is a flagrant violation of their fundamental human rights. It interferes with their rights to life and liberty, work and education as these individuals are upstanding and productive immigrants who also contribute to the development of the Czech society by working, going to school and in some cases doing both. I hope that this issue will be taken up by your committee and examined to ensure a timely and amicable resolution of the matter at hand, while ensuring that the physical, mental and social well-being of the people involved is paramount.
“The biased opinion and further victimization of the accused persons further occurred during their second custody hearing after they have been kept in prison for 5 months., their lawyers filed for custody hearing and the eight (8) wrongly accused persons provided sureties with bond to guarantee the court that they will not jump bail. they will not interfere with the investigation and will be present during their trials, in accordance with the law, that they are students who carry out their activities legally and they have clean criminal record, yet the court refused to let them out on the grounds that they are Nigerians and may leave the country if released.
“This is indeed unfortunate. It must also be noted that for the 8 innocent victims, their International passports have been seized and visas expired so the possibility of leaving the country is zero besides that, the accused are determined to clear their names hence have no motive or incentive to leave the country.”
A text message sent to the Head of Media and Public Relations of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Adekunle Balogun was not replied as at the time of this report.