Slovak businessman Norbert Havalec, who became famous for his alleged role in the notorious ‘Interblue’ emissions trading scandal, has profited from other public orders too, the Sme daily reported. The newspaper wrote that his involvement had extended across the terms of four defence ministers and two governments.
Havalec’s company Magic Trading Corporation received an order to study equipment and armament for the “21st century soldier” through a direct order from the ministry under Juraj Liška (then Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)) and Jaroslav Baška (Smer); two more ministers (from SDKÚ and Smer) later failed to halt the project, Sme wrote on its website on April 6.
The result of the project, which continued for several years and consumed €3.2 million, is several studies and samples of ten outfits for soldiers. These, however, are not being used by the army, but instead remain in the company’s storeroom. Sme wrote that they mainly consist of components that did not require study but could simply be purchased. The case is being investigated by police. Several European countries have launched “21st-century soldier” projects, but normally on a more professional and technology-based level.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
