21.   Deputy finance minister Vladimir Rudlovcak, who was responsible for overseeing Czech capital markets, stepped down after news media alleged his incompetence allowed investment fund fraud.

22.   Detailed allegations were not disclosed, but charges included suspicion of commercial investment fraud, money laundering and links to organized crime, Investigative Judge Pius Heeb said.

23.   He also faces a fine for investment fraud.

24.   He also faces a possible fine for investment fraud.

25.   Later, they said he would be charged with investment fraud, although they still believed he was tied to the alleged mastermind, Ramzi Yousef.

26.   Officials in other states use their laws for similar purposes, aiming to prevent a wide variety of small-scale investment fraud.

27.   The deputy finance minister in charge of regulating capital markets resigned last week after media alleged that his incompetence contributed to investment fund fraud.

28.   His son-in-law Mohammed Khader Darwish said he had been the victim of an investment fraud.