The leadership of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party saw the file codenamed Gorilla two years ago as did some journalists and other politicians, the Sme daily wrote on January 3.

The Gorila document was prepared by the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) in 2005-2006, the TASR newswire reported. The 44,000-word document reportedly describes operations conducted by the SIS that had the aim of collecting information on what the document reportedly indicates was political influence by the Penta financial group between 2005 and 2006.

The document reportedly features the name of Jaroslav Haščák, Penta’s co-owner, and his alleged conversations and connections with ruling coalition politicians such as former economy minister Jirko Malchárek, a nominee of the now-defunct New Citizens’ Alliance (ANO), and other political nominees, including some from Smer party, the Sme daily reported earlier.

In its January 3 issue, Sme quotes SaS deputy chairman and Economy Minister Juraj Miškov as saying that the party received the file before the 2010 general election and reviewed it. Miškov added that the party leaders considered filing a criminal motion but that this had already been done by journalist Tom Nicholson.

The minister also told Sme that based on the information alleged in Gorilla, the party tried to stop the nomination of Anna Bubeníková from the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) to the position as head of the National Property Fund before she received the position in 2010. According to the file, Sme wrote that Bubeníková allegedly acted as a go-between of Penta’s Haščák and others.

Miškov said that SaS tabled a protest at the coalition council but without naming Gorilla directly as the source of the party’s apprehension. “However, SDKÚ insisted on having Bubeníková in this position,” Miškov stated, as quoted by Sme.

Neither the Sme daily nor police have managed to check the authenticity of the Gorilla file.

Source: Sme, 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.