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Czech Republic: EU General Court upholds EC probe-obstruction fines

By  |  November 26, 2014

The European General Court has tossed an appeal filed by a Czech Republic-based energy company and its subsidiary that were fined by the European Commission for allegedly obstructing the watchdog’s antitrust investigation.

EPH and EPIA saw their appeal of a more than $3 million fine issued in 2012 dismissed. The Commission sanctioned the companies on grounds they failed to block an email accounts and divert incoming emails. The Commission said this was in violation of its order to not destroy potential evidence.

Reports say the General Court’s decision presents a clear message against companies’ considering any obstruction of a European Commission investigation.

The decision found that the Commission was right to not need to show that any documents were actually removed or manipulated by the companies’ practices, merely that the incidents constituted an obstruction themselves, reports say.

Full content: Prague Post

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