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Summary for: Prague tram driver fined after viral clash with Ukrainian familyA Prague district court on Wednesday sentenced a former tram driver to 200 hours of community service following a physical and verbal altercation with a Ukrainian couple last year.
Daniel Bejvl, 30, must also undergo a social training program and pay the victims CZK 55,000 in compensation for the incident, which sparked widespread local condemnation.
The conflict occurred on Feb. 27, 2024, on a No. 7 tram at the Vršovické nádraží stop. According to court testimony, the dispute began when the couple’s two-year-old grandson began jumping on the tram seats and hitting the driver’s cabin. Bejvl confronted the family, and upon realizing they were Ukrainian, ordered them to leave the vehicle.
Driver heard to say 'F*cking Ukrainians' on video
During the exchange, Bejvl used ethnic slurs and told the family they had no right to be in the Czech Republic. The court found that Bejvl punched the 63-year-old grandfather in the neck and later threatened the couple with a metal rod when they attempted to photograph him.
Judge Petr Kacafírek ruled that while Bejvl’s actions constituted disorderly conduct, they did not reach the legal threshold for "defamation of a nation." He noted that while the driver's insults were rude, the social harm was not severe enough for the more serious criminal classification.
"The defendant has no previous convictions and he is a young, healthy man who is capable of physical work," Kacafírek said, explaining why community service was more appropriate than a suspended prison sentence.
Drivers says, 'I am not a racist'
Bejvl admitted to "unprofessional behavior" and described his remarks as a personal lapse, though he denied the physical assault. "I am not a racist; I have no problem with Ukrainians or Roma people," he told the court, adding that he regretted the damage caused to the reputation of the Prague Transport Company (DPP).
The defense argued for an acquittal, claiming the couple's testimony was inconsistent and financially motivated. Conversely, the prosecution had sought a five-month suspended prison sentence.
The incident gained significant attention after a video of the confrontation was shared on social media, leading Prague city officials to publicly criticize the driver’s conduct.
Shortly after the footage surfaced, Bejvl and the Prague Transport Company agreed to terminate his employment. Both the defendant and the prosecutor have reserved the right to appeal the verdict.
