**A man wanted in the Czech Republic for drug and fraud crimes has been arrested while working in the US - at a maximum security prison.**Michal Preclik, 32, had recently been promoted to the post of corporal, the Associated Press news agency reports.
An Interpol wanted poster showing his photograph was published on the internet a year ago.
Officials said they carried out a full background check on Mr Preclik and the fact he was employed was “a concern”.
Patrick Barker, who had worked with Mr Preclik at the Tecumseh State Correctional Facility, said he was “shocked” to find out his colleague was a wanted man.
“Here we have a guy facing drug and fraud charges and we’re dealing with contraband issues at the prison,” he told AP.
‘Protected’
But Mr Preclik’s wife, Kari, told reporters her husband had been granted legal residency in the US after testifying in another case and that she could not understand why he had been arrested now.
“They told him that his status was protected here, that whatever he had done in his past was eliminated”
Kari Preclik
Wife
She said the couple did not know there was an arrest warrant for Mr Preclik until he was detained.
“They told him that his status was protected here, that whatever he had done in his past was eliminated and that he would be given status here in the United States,” Mrs Preclik told Nebraska’s Action 3 News.
“He is not a bad man,” she said.
Mr Preclik is currently being held in another prison, where he is fighting possible deportation to the Czech Republic. The exact reason for his arrest has not been made public.
State officials said a full background check had been carried out on Mr Preclik before he was employed and one after he had started work, but that no problems were found.
“Obviously it’s a concern whenever we have anyone working at the facility who has any type of outstanding warrants,” said spokeswoman Dawn Renee Smith.
Officials said the state would be reviewing its employment policy and procedures.