True, Sabina Slonkova (who, in the event, was unharmed) had been digging up dirt for the daily Mlada fronta Dnes on deals Mr Srba had helped to cut.

ECONOMIST: A Czech scandal

Earlier this year, leading daily newspaper Mlada Fronta published transcripts of what it said were secretly recorded phone conversations between Mr. Janousek and the then mayor of Prague, Pavel Bem, and other city officials.

WSJ: The Prague Crony Safari Chronicles Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous