Former Czech MP Dominik Feri Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault

Dominik Feri, a former member of the Czech Republic's TOP 09 political party, has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Prague Municipal Court for sexually assaulting multiple women, including a minor. The court convicted Feri of rape and abuse of power related to incidents that occurred in his Prague apartment in 2016 and an attempted assault in 2018.

According to the court, Feri engaged in various non-consensual sexual acts with the victims who accused him of rape. One of the victims was under 18 years old at the time of the assault. The Prague 3 District Court ordered Feri to pay a total of 510,000 CZK (approximately $23,000) in damages to the victims, as well as an additional 33,000 CZK to cover the cost of psychotherapy for one of them.

Adéla Hořejší, the lawyer representing the victims, emphasized the severe psychological trauma Feri inflicted on the women. "The attack itself and the subsequent hearings had a huge impact on their private lives," Hořejší stated. She also accused Feri of attempting to dissuade two of the women from testifying and described his behavior as predatory, claiming that he "does not think of women as human beings but uses them as objects for his sexual needs."

Why this matters: The Feri case has attracted considerable attention in the Czech Republic, where it has become a focal point of the country's MeToo movement. The trial and sentencing of such a prominent political figure highlight a broader societal shift in attitudes towards sexual harassment and violence. The case has also led to changes in Czech law, with the definition of rape being expanded to encompass all non-consensual sexual acts, regardless of the use of physical force.

Feri, who was the youngest member of the Czech Parliament and the first black representative in Czech politics, resigned from his position in 2021 following the initial accusations of sexual abuse and rape by multiple women. He was indicted in December 2022 on two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

The Municipal Court in Prague rejected Feri's appeal on April 22, 2024, upholding the original three-year prison sentence. The court dismissed Feri's claims that the sexual encounters were consensual. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Jan Cimický, a prominent Czech psychiatrist who faces charges of multiple rapes and dozens of extortion cases against female patients and potential interns.

The verdict in the Feri case is now binding, marking the conclusion of a high-profile legal battle that has had far-reaching implications for Czech society and politics. Hořejší expressed the significance of the court's decision, stating, "The verdict sends a clear signal that sexual violence will not be tolerated, regardless of the perpetrator's social status or political influence."

Key Takeaways

• Dominik Feri, ex-Czech MP, sentenced to 3 years for sexual assault of multiple women, including a minor.
• Feri ordered to pay $23,000 in damages and $1,500 for victim's psychotherapy costs.
• Case highlighted Czech MeToo movement and led to expanded definition of rape in Czech law.
• Feri's appeal rejected, sentence upheld, marking conclusion of high-profile legal battle.
• Verdict seen as sending clear signal that sexual violence will not be tolerated, regardless of perpetrator's status.