A major scandal has hit the Czech Ministry of Justice after an audit revealed it accepted a massive Bitcoin donation from a known criminal. The donor, Tomáš Jirčikovaky, found guilty of running a drug market on the dark web.
The Ministry sold the donated Bitcoin in a public auction, securing 956.8 million CZK, about $45 million. Officials accepted the funds without checking where they came from. They ignored clear warning signs and didn’t do any proper background checks. Public outrage followed once the details surfaced in June.
The scandal led to the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blažek. A no-confidence vote followed but failed to bring down the broader government. Blažek belongs to Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Civic Democratic Party.
The audit, conducted by global firm Grant Thornton, confirmed that the Ministry knew the risks. The report stated that officials had reason to suspect the donation could be linked to criminal activity.
The audit summary said the Ministry “should not have accepted the donation” without further checks. The ministry shared the findings on its official X account on Thursday.
Police launch probe into Bitcoin donation origins
Despite the expose, Blažek came to his defense. He stated there had been no law violation. He criticized the audit on X as “a text designed for headlines” and says that the content was outdated.
Investigations are currently ongoing. The Czech police service, as well as the National Headquarters for Combating Organized Crime, is investigating the source of the donation. Officials are verifying whether the money has been laundered.
The scandal has embarrassed the Justice Ministry and raised serious questions about transparency and monitoring. Critics contend that the case exposes significant shortcomings in the handling of digital property and gifts.
People are losing trust in the system, and many are calling for answers. At the same time, officials are rushing to control the fallout. This whole situation is a clear warning that big crypto donations aren’t always safe. Nevertheless, when the government fails to act, the results can be serious and long-lasting.
