A Czech court on Monday acquitted former prime minister Andrej Babis of alleged fraud in securing EU subsidies, improving the billionaire's prospects in a presidential election this week in which he is among the favourites.
The prosecution had sought a suspended jail term and a fine, accusing Babis of hiding his ownership of one firm 15 years ago to illegally tap 2 million euros ($2.1 million) of European Union funds to build a leisure and conference centre near the capital Prague.
