Government politicians have already called on to Babiš to withdraw from the elections.
Both Babiš and Nagyová have pleaded not guilty on numerous occasions, claiming the case is politically motivated.
The ruling marks yet another chapter in a case known as Čapí Hnízdo (Stork’s Nest) dating back to 2015. The alleged fraud involved EU subsidies provided to the 31-room Stork’s Nest recreational and conference center in central Czechia, part of Babiš’ Agrofert conglomerate, one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic.
Babiš and Nagyová are suspected of manipulating the center’s ownership to satisfy EU grant conditions related to small and medium-sized businesses. After the facility received around €2 million in EU subsidies, Agrofert resumed its ownership.
The Stork’s Nest case has been investigated by both Czech police and the EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) for years. OLAF concluded its investigation in December 2017, saying it had found irregularities in the subsidies provided.