An executive of the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), the Slovak central bank, who is identified only as Ivan B., age 52, has been charged with taking a bribe from the insurance company Rapid Life to protect the firm from the strictest sanctions, Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar and National Crime Agency (NAKA) director Peter Hraško announced at a joint press conference on August 10.
While in the post of the general director of the supervision of the market with securities at NBS, Ivan B. allegedly asked for and received a bribe of €1,000 twice in 2015. He also allegedly accepted a bribe of €2,000 in 2016, supposedly asking for an additional €10,000, the SITA newsire reported.
“These [bribes] were to be given to him with respect to his future decision as part of the NBS supervision process, and he was thus expected to ensure that the strictest sanctions were not imposed,” Gašpar said.

The case was brought to the police by Pavol F. and Peter T., representatives of the insurance company who delivered money to him.
Now, Ivan. B could face five to twelve years in prison, Gašpar said, adding that the bank executive is being prosecuted at large.
Martina Vráblik Solčányiová, the spokesperson of NBS, said that Ivan. B. informed NBS that NAKA had investigated him. He asked for suspension of his function and a holiday, and NBS complied with his request.