Czech court reaffirms five-year prison term and practice ban for psychiatrist Jan Cimický

In a renewed ruling on April 29, Judge Petr Novák of the Prague 8 District Court confirmed the five-year custodial sentence for Jan Cimický, an 78-year-old psychiatrist and author, along with a ten-year prohibition on practicing medicine and an award of about six million crowns in damages. The court refined its reasoning, reclassifying four acts previously deemed rape as sexual attacks, while retaining thirty-three cases as extortion.

It highlighted the uniformity of the victims' statements and the severe impact of the crimes, which spanned more than forty years and involved two girls under eighteen. Cimický, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, appealed the decision, arguing that the court ignored defense evidence and questioned the credibility of expert reports and a key witness. Despite the appeal, the verdict stands unless overturned by a higher court, which would still require Cimický to serve his sentence and cease medical practice.