The Defence Ministry has filed a criminal complaint in connection with a purchase of 400 computers bought in 2007 and 2008 that were overpriced by a total of more than €7.86 million, Minister Ľubomír Galko told the TASR newswire.
Despite an original order for 300 computers, the ministry bought 400 Tempest computers, each costing €19,395. The unit cost was increased further to €28,120 after the delivered computers were supplemented with items such as anti-virus software, CD and DVD drives (which they lacked) and certification for use.
At the time of the Tempest purchases the ministry could have bought Puma or Siltec computers to do the job, the current minister said. These were priced at €12,586 and €8,463, respectively, in 2007, and included printer DVD drives and other required features. Moreover, the Tempest computers which protected against information leaks via electromagnetic radiation were bought without the transaction being put out to tender, from Magic Trading Corporation in two transactions.
“A transparent public procurement procedure could have saved €19,656 a unit,” said Galko. According to the minister, security office head Štefan Jangl at the time countermanded the Tempest order because a transparent tender procedure could not be carried out due to time constraints. The purchase went ahead while he was on holiday, however, on the orders of his deputy Mario Italy. Jangl was later sacked without reason, TASR reported.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
