Czech entomologist Emil Kucera, sentenced to three years of imprisonment for illegally collecting insect specimen, has jumped bail granted by a Darjeeling court. He was facilitated by his country’s laws that allow a citizen to hold multiple passports.The Czech government, however, has decided to consider this action by the entomologist as an “individual decision”, not leading to any kind of strain in the relations between both the countries.Speaking to The Indian Express from Delhi, Czech Consul Katerina Vovkova said her government will not be taking any responsibility for Kucera’s move. She added that Kucera had sent an email to the Embassy here upon reaching the Czech Republic. “He said that he apologises for any problems that may have been caused due to his actions,” said Vovkova. “We are yet to receive any intimation on this issue from the Indian government,” she added.Kucera, along with entomologist Dr Petr Svacha, was tried and sentenced in September for illegally collecting insect specimen from a National Park in Darjeeling district. In a statement to the Czech media issued after returning to his country, Kucera said the reason for his escape was lack of faith in the Indian judicial system. “Since I felt that the Darjeeling authorities were not able to guarantee my right to a fair trial, I decided to solve this complicated situation by leaving the country,” read the statement. He adds that the long trial had exhausted him physically. “I asked my girlfriend to send me a second set of papers, passport and money. Using this, I crossed over to Nepal and made my way back home.”“It is normal for a Czech citizen to have several passports. It is allowed under our laws, by which citizens can hold multiple passports,” Vovkova said. “For instance, if someone is travelling to Saudi Arabia via Israel, they will not be granted entry to the former on the same passport. This is one of the reasons for issuing multiple passports,” she added.Kucera’s departure has left his advocate Taranga Pandit livid. “There is nothing wrong with the Indian judicial system. The manner in which he left, without informing his defence lawyer, is condemnable. The court will be informed about this,” said Pandit. “I can only express regret over our security system, which makes it possible for a person without passport to leave the country,” he added.Svacha, meanwhile, is in New Delhi where he is undergoing treatment, Taranga added. “There’s no restriction on Svacha leaving Darjeeling, but his passport is also with the court. It had been specified by the court that Kucera was not to leave the district headquarters.”Darjeeling District Forest Officer Sumita Ghatak said she had no official confirmation that Kucera had indeed left the country. “We will be approaching the district intelligence branch for further information. As far as we know now, Kucera is not in Darjeeling and is absconding.” Sources in the District Forest Department said the porous nature of the Indo-Nepal border made it easy to cross over.
