Ján Slota, illustrative stock photo (source: TASR)
Ján Slota, former chair of the SNS party, got a four months probational sentence over 24 months for drunk driving on February 21, from the Žilina Regional Court. This is a stricter sentence than the original one and the court also ruled that part of the original decision of the first-instance court, a six year driving ban, should remain in effect.
Last year, the Žilina district court found Slota guilty of the misdemeanour of endangering the public while under the influence of an addictive substance and fined him €6,000. Failure to pay would result in a six month prison sentence. It also banned him from driving for the next six years, the SITA newswire wrote.
However, the prosecutor found this sentence insufficient and filed an appeal. The appellate court replaced the €6,000 fine with a conditional sentence, while leaving the ban on driving in its original form.
Plaintiff happy, defendant may appeal
“I think this is good news for all drivers in Žilina and its surroundings, as they can drive safely, without being endangered by this person,” the prosecutor and spokesman of the Žilian Regional Prosecutor’s Office Milan Cisarik said, as cited by SITA. “The Prosecutor’s Office proposed a stricter punishment but is still satisfied with the current decision, especially due to the fact that it is a combination of a ban on activity – i.e. driving – and a conditional prison sentence.”
Slota’s lawyer Pavol Kuric commented that they have acknowledged the verdict of the regional court and that he will discuss possible further motions with his client. Thus, the verdict is not yet valid.
The course of accident
Ján Slota caused an accident on January 18, 2016, near the village of Porúbka in the Žilina District. Driving a Porsche Cayenne, he crashed into the rear of the Audi A6 driving in front of him, which then bumped into the Suzuki SX4 driving still further in front. The driver of the Audi had to be treated after the crash. Slota refused a breathalyser test, as well as blood tests to ascertain the level of alcohol in his blood. The other two drivers were not under the influence.
