Metanol

History

The 2012 Czech Republic methanol poisonings occurred in September 2012 in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. In the course of several days, 38 people in the Czech Republic and 4 people in Poland died as a result of methanol poisoning and many others have been taken to hospital. The poisonings continued for several years after the main wave, as of April 2014, there were 51 dead and many others suffered permanent health damage.

The police have been systematically checking shops where liquors are on sale. Under the leadership of police vice president Václav Kučera, a special police team called Metyl coordinates the investigations. On September 24, the police announced that the source of the methanol-contaminated alcohol had been identified. Two main suspects have been arrested: Rudolf Fian, a businessman from Karviná of Slovak nationality, and Tomáš Křepela, a Czech company owner from Řitka. On 21 May, 2014, the two were sentenced to life imprisonment; eight others to imprisonment for 8 to 21 years.