Final Word from Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Under the Communists, it wasn't unusual for the home of a diplomat or businessman to be burglarized soon after he and his family returned from a foreign assignment. All kinds of approvals were needed before a person could go abroad, and this left a paper trail. Burglars with inside connections were able to follow the trail to find victims likely to have brought back nice things from their foreign assignment. The paper trail is one reason to oppose ČSSD's idea of requiring asset declarations for combating the grey market. It'd be easy for someone with access to the declarations to supply asset lists to burglars, kidnappers or extortionists. Super-rich Czechs with their assets stashed away in offshore companies or Mediterranean villas might be able to avoid the prying eyes, but the growing class of honest, well-paid professionals would be easy victims.