Darjeeling, Aug. 12: Czech entomologist Petr Svacha and his companion Emil Kucera, who are accused of illegally collecting beetles and other insects from the Singalila National Park, will stand on trial for four consecutive days from August 25.

The chief judicial magistrate’s court here fixed the dates today, paving the way for one of the quickest trials in recent memory. Svacha had earlier said he feared that the trial would go on for years.

The Czechs were arrested from a lodge near Rimbick, about 80km from Darjeeling town, on June 22.

Sources said five witnesses are likely to depose against the duo. “We are hopeful that the trial will be completed before August 29,” said defence lawyer Taranga Pandit.

The prosecution filed its report (similar to a chargesheet) in the court yesterday. “The Czechs have been charged under Sections 9, 27, 29, 35 (B), 39, 49, 51, 56 and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” said Pandit. If pronounced guilty, the punishment can range from three to seven years in jail plus a fine.

Govind Chhetri, the assistant public prosecutor, said forest officials had sent the seized insects to the Zoological Survey of India in Calcutta for identification. “We have received an interim report and are hopeful of being able to submit the final report during the trial period.”

The CJM, U.K. Nandi, today confirmed the interim bail granted to the Czechs on July 25. “He directed the investigating officer to submit the duo’s passports to the court. The Czechs will no longer have to report to the local police station,” said Pandit.

On the basis of a petition filed by the Czechs, the court also asked the foresters to return the money seized from the duo. “We had about Rs 12,000, apart from $ 330, 300 Euros and 5,300 Czech korunas,” said Svacha.

The Czechs refused comment on today’s development. “We would want to go through the (prosecution’s) report first,” Svacha said. The defence lawyers said the Czechs would have the report by tomorrow.

Kucera’s girlfriend in the Czech Republic, Ing Iva Trpakova, told The Telegraph in an email that Josef Jelínek, the president of the Czech Entomological Society, had on August 7 submitted a petition to the first secretary of the Indian embassy in Prague in support of the duo.