Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis faces fraud trial

PRAGUE (AP) — Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has gone on trial in a $2 million fraud case involving European Union subsidies. The case involves a farm known as the Stork’s Nest that received EU subsidies after its ownership was transferred from the Babis-owned Agrofert conglomerate of around 250 companies to Babis’ family members. Later, Agrofert again took ownership of the farm. The subsidies were meant for medium- and small-sized businesses, and Agrofert wouldn’t have been eligible for them. Agrofert later returned the subsidy. It’s not clear when a verdict might be issued.