An official criminal investigation has been initiated into the Czech Post’s procurement of hundreds of e-bikes for its delivery staff. Jan Lelek, head of prosecutors in Prague 1, overseeing detectives, confirmed the launch of the investigation, indicating potential legal issues surrounding the eight million crowns (excluding VAT) spent on e-bike purchases from Kosmos bikes.

The Prague I Police are currently conducting a non-public investigation, with Lelek refraining from specifying the criminal charges or offenses under consideration. Possible violations could include gaining an advantage in awarding a public contract or breach of duty in managing another’s property.

With the commencement of criminal proceedings, investigators gain enhanced authority and tools for their inquiry, enabling them to request documents from involved parties, financial institutions, and implement wiretaps if necessary.

Czech Post procured e-bikes for its delivery personnel at the end of the previous year through a competition where only one bidder participated. The purchase, confirmed by Matyáš Vitík, spokesman for Czech Post, amounted to 79 thousand crowns per e-bike, sourced through a middleman. However, the same model from the manufacturer Crussis was available for purchase at 37 thousand crowns in an e-shop—half the price.

The procurement included not only the e-bikes but also additional equipment like transport boxes, bags, stands, and lighting. Vitík explained in August that the cost covered subsequent bike service for two years.

A point of contention arose regarding the payload capacity of the e-bikes, as they did not meet the required 145 kilograms specified by Czech Post. Despite the supplier indicating a payload of 155 kilograms, the manufacturer contested a lower payload of 35 kilograms. This discrepancy meant that delivery personnel had to weigh under 60 kilograms to stay within the manufacturer’s payload limit.

In September, concerns were raised about the e-bikes’ build quality, with a video circulating on social networks depicting the unsatisfactory condition of the bikes after just a month of use. The criminal investigation is expected to delve into these allegations of irregularities in the procurement process, shedding light on the controversial e-bike purchases by Czech Post.

Article by Prague Forum