On September 22, the parliamentary Defense and Security Committee will look into a scandal involving Police Corps Vice-President Michal Kopčík, who has been accused of illegally selling an automatic rifle, the TASR newswire was told by committee vice-chairman Jan Kovarčík on September 17.
According to Kovarčík, high-ranking police officers should be automatically suspended in response to suspicions of violating the law, and Kopčík should be no exception.
Kopčík currently has the full confidence of Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, who doesn't think that he should be suspended over the rifle scandal. Kaliňák also noted that all police vice-presidents who have combated organised crime have been bombarded with various accusations.
On September 16, Kopčík pressed charges of slander against Ernest Šimonič, who handed over information on the alleged illegal rifle sale to Sme daily. According to Šimonič, Kopčík also illegally secured firearms for a shooting club in which he was active. 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.
