The Czech anti-corruption unit has lodged a request to parliament to suspend ex-Minister of Defense Vlasta Parkanová’s immunity from prosecution . . . the request comes amid accusations of Parkanova abusing the office when signing a dubious military contract for CASA C-295 transport aircrafts in 2010 without seeking an expert opinion on the purchase, Czech quotidian Hospodářské noviny reports . . .  the Institute of State and Law maintains that an expert opinion is not mandated by the law . . . Prime Minister Petr Nečas and the Finance Minister and party colleague of Ms Parkanová, Miroslav Kalousek, have dismissed the request and expressed fear of the police encroaching on the authority of government . . . Radim Bureš from the Czech branch of Transparency International and Petr Lessy, the police president, accused the government of violating the authority of the police and the judiciary, which had authorized the request . . . unless new evidence emerges, the case is most likely to dissipate away as the government commands enough MPs to block the police request . . . the case will add to the considerable shadow of doubt lingering over the government that has already seen its popularity sapped by a widespread perception of sleaze and corruption . . . the contentious basis of the accusation raises doubts about the work and accountability of the police and judiciary . . . however, the controversy also highlights the  legal loopholes and sloppy practice which potentially render public tendering prone to corruption