A Czech court has confirmed sentences for a businessman convicted of orchestrating the theft of 45 tons of grapes in 2017, a case that has exposed a complex web of financial dealings and alleged fraud. The incident, which took place at the Bisenc winery in Hodonín, has garnered attention as a rare instance of large-scale agricultural theft and highlights vulnerabilities within the Czech wine industry.
Wine Producer Sentenced in Grape Theft Case
Tomáš Šupa received a three-year suspended sentence on February 2024, a decision upheld by both the Regional Court in Brno and the Czech Supreme Court. His accomplice, Vojtěch Klučák, also received a suspended sentence, as did the Neoklas Šardice winery, which Šupa led. The court found that the theft was premeditated and carefully planned.
According to the prosecution, the perpetrators used hired security to prevent the legitimate tenant from accessing the vineyard during harvest. The grapes were then harvested over two days by a team using specialized equipment. The thieves falsely claimed to be acting under a legitimate lease agreement.
The stolen grapes were processed into a low-quality wine blend and sold to Vinárstvo Neoklas Šardice for approximately 900,000 Czech koruna (roughly 36,000 euros). Even though, the funds were quickly returned to the seller from an executor’s office.
The theft dealt a significant blow to Vinárstvo Bisenc, a winery specializing in organic and hand-harvested wines, resulting in the loss of their entire harvest. The winery estimated the total loss at 65 tons. “The 1,157,000 koruna (approximately 46,300 euros) awarded by the court represents about a third of the damage caused. But we are glad to receive at least something,” said Peter Kunc, the director of Vinárstvo Bisenc, to the ČTK news agency following the verdict.
Allegations of a Ponzi Scheme
Šupa had previously been a prominent figure in the Czech wine industry, managing several wineries under the umbrella of the FPD investment group, linked to Slovak businessman Anton Siekel. He also had interests in real estate, alcohol distribution, and fashion. However, his business practices came under scrutiny as his companies began to accumulate debt.
Šupa financed his investments through the issuance of bonds to small investors via companies including Private Active Investor and Private Active Investor Bonds. These companies subsequently faced bankruptcy proceedings due to their inability to repay creditors.
Authorities allege that Šupa operated a Ponzi scheme, using funds from recent investors to pay returns to earlier investors. This system relies on a constant influx of new capital and inevitably collapses when recruitment slows.
Asset Sales and International Flight
In November 2025, an industrial complex owned by one of Šupa’s companies, BCS4, was auctioned off for over 2 million euros. The proceeds from the sale went to another of Šupa’s companies, Private Active Investor, which is also in bankruptcy. The liquidation of Private Active Investor’s assets is intended to compensate dozens of creditors who had loaned the company millions of euros.
The new statutory director of Private Active Investor is Gregorio Colman Sanabria, based in Asunción, Paraguay. Šupa himself has reportedly fled the country, and his current whereabouts are unknown. He cancelled his permanent residency in the Czech Republic and listed an address in Guatemala City as his new correspondence address, though authorities have been unable to locate him there.
