Czech MP gets three-year jail sentence for rape

PRAGUE: Dominik Feri, a 27-year-old Czech lawmaker, was on Thursday handed a three-year sentence for rape and attempted rape by a Prague court. 

Feri was charged with raping a 17-year-old in his flat and then another woman in 2016, a year before he became member of parliament. He also allegedly tried to rape a prospective parliament intern in 2018 while serving as a lawmaker.

Feri says he is innocent and has appealed the verdict. Feri became a member of parliament for the small right-wing TOP 09 party in 2017, just after turning 21 which is the youngest age for parliament entry under the constitution.

Wooing young voters with his Afro hairstyle and hobbies, Feri had earlier served as councillor in his northern hometown of Teplice since the age of 18. He quit politics in May 2021 as police started to investigate the rapes and did not run again in the last general election later that year.