Appellate procedure in promissory notes case adjourned. A defendant failed to show up

Pavol Rusko claimed hospitalisation after an attack.

Marian Kočner leaving the courtMarian Kočner leaving the court (Source: TASR)

The Supreme Court was expected to hold an appellate procedure in the case of the forged promissory notes for the next two days, but had to eventually adjourn to January 12 and 13, 2021.

The reason is that one of the defendants, Pavol Rusko, did not arrive to the court. He claimed to be in the hospital after allegedly being attacked with an unknown liquid while jogging.

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

Lawyer Marek Para suggested that a separate proceeding would be held with Rusko, and that only another defendant, Marian Kočner, would be present.

SkryťTurn off ads

However, Rusko did not want the proceeding to be held in his absence.

Court sentences Kočner and Rusko to 19 years in prison Read more 

Both Rusko and Kočner were already sentenced to 19 years in prison in late February for forging promissory notes, which Kočner used to obtain €69 million from the current owner of private broadcaster TV Markíza in 2016. Kočner was also ordered to pay a fine of €10,000.

Prosecutor Ján Šanta originally demanded 20 years in prison for both and a fine of €300,000 for Kočner. Šanta appealed the verdict, and so did the two defendants.

Obstruction questioned

On December 15 Šanta doubted that Rusko had been injured, but added that he was not surprised by such step.

“I believe the date will not change anymore,” Šanta said when leaving the courtroom, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

Court will judge Kočner for an unprecedented crime Read more 

The Supreme Court now has to check whether Rusko was really unable to come to the hearing. If an obstruction is confirmed, the prosecutor will see a reason to take Rusko into custody. At the same time, the police will check whether Rusko was actually attacked.

SkryťTurn off ads

Para said that they submitted all documents to the court.

“It is the first apology of my client, not an obstruction from my point of view,” he said, as quoted by TASR.

Top stories

The future of safer abortion in Slovakia is still unknown.

News digest: Health minister ponders politically fraught abortion pill decision

Summer in Bratislava, the future of stores, and the general prosecutor objects to a sentencing decision.


4 h
Vrakuňa’s citizens presented apples washed in water with leaked toxins at the protest in 2016.

Chemical time bomb in Bratislava’s Vrakuňa keeps ticking

The state is failing to solve leaking chemical waste dump.


31. may
Jupiter (centre) and its Galilean moons: from left Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto. Juice with deployed antennas and arrays is in the bottom right.

From Košice to Ganymede: Slovak engineers are leaving their mark in space

Slovaks are active participants in two ongoing space missions.


20. may
Devin Castle

Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners

Tips for the top 10 events in the capital between June 8 and June 18, plus temporary exhibitions, classical music and highlights of the year.


19 h
SkryťClose ad