On 20 November 2025, a trial began at the Regional Court in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, that has shocked both the medical faculty of Charles University and the Czech military. Pavel Novotný, a 41-year-old former military doctor and pharmacology lecturer, stands accused of serially raping eight women – almost all of them his own students or young women he met at university events – between 2017 and 2024. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.
How the Case Came to Light
The breakthrough came in July 2024 when one brave victim walked into the Military Police headquarters and reported what had happened to her years earlier. Investigators examined Novotný’s phones and computers and quickly found messages and contacts pointing to other women with eerily similar stories: an invitation for drinks, a sudden blackout, fragmented memories of being unable to move or speak, and waking up with the sickening certainty that they had been assaulted.
Within weeks, eight victims had been identified. Police believe there may be more who have not yet come forward.
The Alleged Method: A Pharmacologist’s Perfect Weapon
Prosecutors say Novotný exploited his expert knowledge of pharmacology. He is accused of secretly adding GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), commonly known as the “date-rape drug” or “liquid ecstasy”, to his victims’ drinks. The substance is colourless, nearly tasteless, and when mixed with alcohol causes rapid loss of muscle control, deep sedation, and amnesia – exactly the effects described by the women. Its bitter taste can easily be masked by strong cocktails or energy drinks.
Crucially, advanced forensic toxicology tests later detected GHB or its metabolites in six of the eight victims, even though some tests were carried out months or years after the attacks – a rare and powerful piece of evidence in date-rape cases.
The Human Cost
Every single victim has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Some had to interrupt their medical studies; others still require psychiatric treatment. Together, they are seeking almost 10 million CZK (approximately €400,000 / $420,000) in non-material damages.
One victim, quoted anonymously by Czech Radio, said: “He was someone we trusted completely. He taught us, advised us, and acted like a protective older brother. And then you wake up and realise he used you when you were utterly helpless.”
From Full Confession to “Not Guilty”
During the pre-trial investigation, Novotný gave a detailed confession, describing how and why he administered the drug. Yet when the main trial opened this week, he pleaded not guilty. His new defence lawyer, Tereza Jelínková, told the court that all sexual encounters were consensual, that no one was drugged, and that the original confession had been extracted under pressure from the prosecutor. She also challenged the reliability of the toxicology reports and the credibility of some victims’ statements.
The presiding judge adjourned the hearing until December to give the defendant time to prepare his testimony. The trial is closed to the public to protect the victims’ identities – standard procedure in Czech sexual-assault cases.
A Wider Reckoning
The case has landed at a sensitive moment for the Czech Republic. In recent years, the country reformed its rape laws to recognise non-consensual sex even when no physical violence is used – explicitly including situations where the victim is incapacitated by drugs or “freezing” in terror. Campaign groups point out that only about 5–8 % of the estimated 12,000 rapes that occur annually are ever reported, and conviction rates remain low. High-profile cases like this one, and the earlier conviction of former MP Dominik Feri for rape, are slowly shifting public and legal attitudes.
For the medical faculty in Hradec Králové and the military medical service, the scandal is particularly painful: the accused was not just a colleague but a teacher and mentor to the very students he is alleged to have preyed upon.
What Happens Next
In December, the court is expected to hear testimony from the victims, toxicology experts, and possibly Novotný himself. The outcome will depend heavily on whether the judges accept the scientific evidence of drugging and the consistency of the women’s accounts despite memory gaps caused by GHB.https://www.ndtv.com/
For now, Pavel Novotný remains in custody. Eight women – and perhaps others still silent – are waiting for justice.https://theinfohatch.com/the-u-s-department-of-education-cuts-degree-list/
If you or someone you know may have been affected and you are in the Czech Republic, the Military Police have set up a dedicated contact: vp.kauzanasili@mo.gov.cz. You can also report to any police station. You will be heard, and you will be believed.