The Supreme Court of Appeal in Prague has extended the prison sentence of former soldier Filip Siman by one year, who was convicted of looting during his volunteer service in Ukraine. He was found guilty not only of looting but also of serving in foreign armed forces.
This information was reported by the publication Seznav Zpravy.
Filip Siman. Source: seznamzpravy.czNow, the ex-soldier must spend eight years behind bars. Thus, the original sentence imposed on Siman by the Prague Municipal Court in August has been increased by one year.
Following an appeal by the state prosecutor, the court found the man guilty not only of looting but also of serving in foreign armed forces. According to the court, the fact that a Czech citizen served in the army of a friendly foreign state does not exempt him from criminal liability for this offense.
“The actions of the accused are socially harmful. Assisting a country supported by the Czech Republic does not mean that the defendant will not face justice. The authorities are guided by the law, not by political desires… The defendant was well aware that he did not have the president's permission, yet he traveled to Ukraine. The defendant also abused his official position in the armed forces, stealing and calling the plundered items ‘military spoils,’” said Judge David Protiva.
27-year-old Filip Siman arrived in Ukraine at the end of March 2022 and joined the Ukrainian volunteer battalion “Carpathian Sich.”
In Ukraine, he served in Irpin and Bucha, where he patrolled trenches and conducted sweeps. According to the court's verdict, he appropriated items from both civilians and deceased soldiers, such as wedding rings, other jewelry, gold and silver bars, as well as cash.
In April 2022, Siman was detained by the Ukrainian army and subsequently returned to the Czech Republic.
Recall that in August of last year, Filip Siman was sentenced to seven years in prison.