Police Give Details of Charges Against Former Czech Spy

Police today gave details of the charges - namely disobeying orders and bearing arms without permission - which they have brought against the recently dismissed secret service (BIS) agent Vladimir Hucin who was arrested on Wednesday. Witnesses say that the police, who have conducted a search of Hucin's house, found an explosive device in the graveyard opposite his house. North Moravian police spokeswoman Sona Bradacova refused to confirm this. Bradacova said that the investigator was now questioning witnesses, adding that a decision on whether to grant Hucin bail was to be made today on the basis of the evidence gathered so far. The police refused to confirm the statement made by the head of the commission which oversees BIS, Jan Klas, that Hucin is to be remanded in custody. Last night the police searched Hucin's house in Prerov and today carried out a search of the graveyard across the street, of which Hucin is the administrator. The police refused to give details about the search of the graveyard but a witness said that the police had removed an explosive substance. Hucin's wife said that the investigator had told her that the police found nothing in the graveyard. Police removed written materials, cartridges, flares, small bore rifles and explosives from Hucin's house. Hucin's relatives say that the charges against him are fabricated and that the presence of the weapons and such things can be explained. Police last week accused Hucin of blackening the name of the police and the secret service and of therefore spreading alarm. A month previously Hucin was dismissed for violating his conditions of employment when he refused to reveal his informants. People interrogated by the police said that they had shown interest in Hucin due to unexplained explosions in Prerov, north Moravia. Hucin says the bombs were planted by extreme left groups. Hucin, a former dissident, has denied all the allegations against him. He says that BIS wanted to get rid of him due to the success of his work against extreme left groups, and drawing attention to high-ups from the Communist era who are now working in the civil service and the armed forces.