Harabin in court against public broadcaster

DAUGHTER of the deceased judge Marta Lauková, Zuzana, testified in court on February 24 in the case of ex-chair of the Judicial Council and former Supreme Court president Štefan Harabin’s lawsuit against public-service broadcaster RTVS and psychiatrist Renáta Papšová. 

Štefan HarabinŠtefan Harabin (Source: SME)

He demands altogether €300,000 in damages.

“As a physician I can say that sometimes illnesses are contagious and our judiciary is ill,” Papšová told RTVS in April 2012. “Juraj Majchrák became ill and so did JUDr [Marta] Lauková, who in the same way died from tough persecution by doctor Harabin.”

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Papšová was the treating physician of the late Lauková who died of serious health conditions, as well as of Majchrák, a one-time vice president of the Supreme Court who committed suicide.

Harabin has sued the psychiatrist over what he called slander and is now seeking €100,000 in damages from Papšová and an additional €200,000 from RTVS for broadcasting the discussion as part of its investigative journalism programme Reportéri in May 2012.

SkryťTurn off ads

Zuzana Lauková said before the court that though her mother needed intensive medical care, the Judicial Council decided to revoke extra sick benefits from her. In an announcement signed by Harabin it was indirectly written that she simulated her sickness, as reported by the Sme daily.

The daily also wrote that Marta Lauková’s problems started after she had reported to the police in 2009 that one judge wanted to influence one of her decisions. She was moved from the criminal to the civil department, though she focused on criminal law.

Harabin said in court that he was not the justice minister then and did not have powers he could have used to intimidate the judge, Sme wrote.

Lauková, however, responded that Harabin and the Judicial Council did not have a reason to believe a judge who ordered to stop the benefits.

SkryťTurn off ads

“His guilt is in an unprofessional, non-collegial and arrogant way he treated my mother,” she told Sme.

After the proceeding, Harabin shook hands with Papšová and offered to teach her to dance the kazatchok. Papšová said she had rejected his proposal, as reported by Sme.

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad