When Czech detectives cracked open the private safe of Jiří Svoboda, the powerful head of the Czech Railway Administration, they didn’t expect to uncover a small fortune. But that’s exactly what they found — and the revelation has sent shockwaves through Prague’s political and transportation sectors.
According to exclusive information reported by iRozhlas.cz, officers from the National Center for Organized Crime (NCOZ) discovered over 80 million Czech crowns in cash — the equivalent of 3.3 million euros — in Svoboda’s personal safe during a coordinated police raid earlier this week. The stash contained Czech korunas, euros, and U.S. dollars, alongside a collection of luxury watches, raising immediate questions about the origin of the wealth and the integrity of one of the country’s top public officials.
Svoboda, who has led the state-run railway agency for years, refused to address the scandal openly.
“I will not comment on these matters… I will explain everything to the appropriate authorities, not the media,” he told reporters, according to iRozhlas.
A Family Fortune — or a Convenient Explanation?
Under mounting public scrutiny, Svoboda later claimed the cash wasn’t his — at least not mostly.
He told Seznam Zprávy that the money represented the lifetime savings of his father and grandfather, the latter a former owner of a machine production factory. The funds, he insisted, were kept outside the banking system because his family lost significant assets during the 1953 currency reform, a traumatic event that left his father distrustful of financial institutions.
Svoboda further defended himself by pointing out his own high income.
“I earn more than seven million crowns a year at the Railway Administration — that’s about 70 million since I joined. My income is transparent; everything I purchase is traceable,” he said.
Police Investigating Major Infrastructure Contracts
The police raid wasn’t limited to Svoboda’s home. NCOZ units also stormed the headquarters of the Railway Administration and several construction companies as part of a sweeping investigation into public contract corruption.
According to Seznam Zprávy and Odkryto.cz, detectives are examining major infrastructure tenders, including:
- The Pardubice railway hub reconstruction worth almost 7 billion CZK
- The construction of a new Brno railway station
- Additional procurement documents from major construction firms
Despite the scandal, Friday’s board meeting of the Railway Administration made no move to suspend or remove Svoboda. Company spokeswoman Nela Eberl Friebová confirmed that he remains in his position.
As the investigation intensifies, the case has become a national flashpoint — raising concerns about transparency, public spending, and the integrity of state infrastructure projects.