Czech ex-Premier Babis acquitted in EU funds fraud case

By KAREL JANICEK
Associated Press

PRAGUE (AP) — A Prague court has acquitted former Prime Minister Andrej Babis of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving European Union subsidies. A prosecutor requested a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of 10 million Czech koruna ($440,000) for the populist billionaire. Babis pleaded not guilty and repeatedly said the charges against him were politically motivated. The acquittal came on Monday.