A Prague court has ordered a preliminary hearing at the end of January for the complaint lodged in September 2001 by clients of failed brokers Private Investors, which went bankrupt in May 2001.

Around 30 investors claim that the state, in the form of the Securities Commission (KCP), failed in its duty to adequately supervise the financial markets.

A Lidove Noviny editorial says the investors have a good case, adding that the work of the KCP and laws and regulations on market supervision have improved since 2001.

(PBJ 03.i.03)