Detention of fighter Karel Vémola: court decided on restricting his freedom

Court decision

After several hours of proceedings, the judge accepted the prosecutor's arguments that releasing Vémola could complicate the investigation and jeopardize the securing of evidence. In his reasoning he stated that the findings to date point to serious, long-term and organized criminal activity, and therefore it is necessary to approach the institution of custody with increased caution.​

Nature of the charges

According to the authorities involved in the criminal proceedings, Karel Vémola is being prosecuted on suspicion of serious criminal activity that is said to have an organized character and may involve multiple people and extend over a longer period. If guilt is proven, he faces a lengthy prison sentence, which is one of the key factors for which both the court and the prosecutor consider the flight risk to be real.​

Defense arguments

Karel Vémola's defense attorney disagrees with the court's decision and points out that his client has family, support and work commitments in the Czech Republic and has no reason to hide from justice. According to the defense, Vémola has cooperated with investigators from the outset, denies guilt and is prepared to attend all steps of the criminal proceedings without being held in custody.

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Health and personal circumstances

The legal representative also points to health complications the fighter has been dealing with recently and emphasizes that a long stay in custody could negatively affect his condition and career. The court, however, stated that necessary medical care can be provided even in remand prison conditions and that personal, family or professional circumstances alone are not sufficient to replace custody with milder measures.​

Next steps in the case

The defense may file a complaint against the decision to keep him in custody, which the higher court will decide in the coming days. The investigation continues, with the authorities focusing on supplementing evidence, further witness interviews and evaluating materials meant to clarify the scope and nature of the alleged criminal activity. The court also sent two other detained persons, including Antonín Beck, into custody.