In Prague 10, the largest judicial complex in the country will open

Prague - In Prague 10, Na Míčánkách, the largest judicial complex in the country was opened today. The construction of the complex, to which courts and public prosecutors from four Prague districts have relocated, cost the Ministry of Justice more than 2.5 billion crowns. The operation of the complex was inaugurated by Ombudsman and former Minister of Justice Otakar Motejl tapping a gavel.

Petr Sváček, president of the Prague city court, emphasized that Motejl deserves credit for the construction of the complex, which will concentrate 40 percent of Prague's judicial capacity.
The complex was created by renovating three historical buildings on the site of the former Kasárna Jana Roháče z Dubé and by the complete construction of a new six-story building in the center of the entire complex. The construction lasted over three years. About 1000 employees will work in the completed palace.
The complex includes 98 courtrooms, 38 special rooms for confidential hearings, and also has 30 detention cells, an auction hall, and a specialized library. For example, the cafeteria for court and prosecutor employees has a capacity of up to 1200 meals daily.
The complex is connected by underground corridors, and the walls of the entrance hall and corridors have different colors on each floor: red, green, blue, and yellow. However, Sváček appreciates the most that the operation inside the complex is divided into two parts. Judicial personnel, judges, and prosecutors come into contact with the public only in the courtroom - elsewhere, random contact is prevented. "This measure responds to the ever-increasing demands for safety," stated Ministry of Justice spokesperson Pavel Staněk. According to Sváček, judges will also not need to step over the legs of the participants in proceedings on their way to the courtroom.
The Ministry of Justice has sought to resolve the situation where many courts and public prosecutor's offices are located in inadequate buildings, which are often rented. Courts and public prosecutors from the Prague districts 4, 8, 9, and 10 have moved to the complex. The tender for the preparation of project documentation for the judicial complex was won by Helika Company in 2000. The consortium of companies Skanska CZ and Metrostav began construction in July 2003.
The courts and public prosecutor's offices began moving to the complex in mid-September. In previous weeks, for example, decisions about detentions were already being made on the premises. From today, the palace has started full operations.
Representatives of construction companies pointed out that despite the high costs, the relocation of the courts will also bring some savings. For example, the ministry will now pay less for building management or their protection than was spent on individual courts. The price of the judicial palace was criticized in the past by the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). Due to inadequate preparation by the project contractor, the complex cost about 290 million crowns more than planned, according to the NKÚ report.
The transport company will strengthen some lines that people can use to get to the new courthouse. Starting October 3, it has also launched a completely new bus line 134, which will serve the judicial palace.

(source: www.praha10.cz)

---