Priest Charged with Rape and Child Abuse

Prague Daily Monitor
February 11, 2014

http://praguemonitor.com/2014/02/11/priest-charged-rape-and-child-abuse

Havlickuv Brod, East Bohemia, Feb 10 (CTK) - The Czech police arrested a 52-year-old priest and accused him of rape, sexual abuse and other crimes and the man faces up to ten years in prison if his guilt is proved, police spokeswoman Dana Cirtkova said yesterday.

Cirtkova said the case is exceptionally serious not only because of the crimes concerned but also because "the perpetrator took advantage of the helplessness and trust of the victims with whom he was in regular contact as a clergyman."

The priest was remanded in custody on Thursday.

A 37-year-old woman reported to the police that the priest exerted psychological pressure on her from mid-2012 and that he raped her four times in late 2013.

David Spilka, from the police in Havlickuv Brod, said the man is suspected of further crimes involving a 13-year-old girl.

The priest has been accused of rape, sexual abuse and pressure and abuse of a child for porn production