Philippines says Czech authorities released key suspect in corruption scandal

PRAGUE – The Philippines said former lawmaker Zaldy Co – a key suspect in the corruption scandal that rocked the nation – has been released by Czech authorities just over a week after his arrest.

Co is no longer in Czech custody, and is now somewhere within the Schengen area, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters in a virtual briefing from Prague.

Co was arrested earlier in April after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation.

Czech authorities didn’t provide details on how and where Co exited, citing data privacy rules, Mr Vida said.

The two nations don’t have a police cooperation agreement that would enable the sharing of information, he said.

“We respect the sovereignty of other nations and their legal processes,” Mr Vida said. “We will continue to pursue accountability through every legal channel available to us.”

Co’s release presents a setback for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who pledged to bring Co back to the Philippines to face criminal charges over an alleged scheme to pocket billions meant for flood infrastructure. 

The graft scandal slowed economic growth by paralysing government spending, and soured investor sentiment towards the South-east Asian nation. BLOOMBERG