Vít Bárta


Vít Bárta is a Czech politician and businessman who served as Minister of Transport from 2010 to 2011 and as Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2010 to 2013. Bárta also led political party Věci veřejné during 2011–2013. In 2011 Bárta announced his resignation from the government due to prosecution when he was accused of bribery by his party colleagues. His criminal prosecution was considered illegal, because he was acquitted of all accusations in 2013.
In 2018, Vít Bárta has started his own business. He is a Managing Director of Rail Clinic s.r.o. which provides services in the field of mobile service of freight wagons.

Political career

He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and became a member of Petr Nečas' cabinet.

Controversy

In April 2011, Bárta was accused of bribery by his colleagues from Public Affairs, deputies Jaroslav Škárka, Stanislav Huml, and Kristýna Kočí. The deputies were subsequently expelled from the party. The incident caused serious problems in the Czech government coalition.
On 8 April 2011, Bárta announced his resignation from the government of Petr Nečas.
A year later, in April 2012, Barta was convicted of bribery and conditionally sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
His criminal prosecution was considered illegal, because he was by the judgement of the Prague 5 District Court of 23 January 2013, file No. 3 T 8/2012, in conjunction with the decision of the Municipal Court of Prague of 26 March 2013, file No. 61 To 48/2013, acquitted of all accusations because the crime did not happen. Vít Bárta received the Apology of Ministry of Justice of 30 November 2014 for non-material damage caused by criminal prosecution.
At the moment a legal proceeding about compensation for non-material damage for Vít Bárta is still ongoing, which was caused to him in connection with his unlawfull prosecution for alleged political corruption.

Business

Since October 2018, Vít Bárta has been working as a Managing Director of Rail Clinic s.r.o. which provides services in the field of mobile service of freight wagons.