"Your Highness", a Slovak posing as a banker, sparks a police investigation

A group calling itself 'Slovak Share Cooperative (SPD) - ROD' claims it can distribute significant sums of money to its members, asserting that it has a role within the global financial system alongside central banks.

Around three months ago, the news website Aktuality.sk exposed the practices of this group, which entices customers by promising them a lifetime pension of €1,500 per month, holding out the prospect of paying off all their debts, or even by offering them loans to fulfil their dream projects.

The police began investigating Skirkanič's business activities.

"Revolution"

The head of the organisation is the controversial businessman Emil Skirkanič, who allows members to address him as "Your Highness."

According to Skirkanič, Slovakia, through SPD ROD, will spark a "global revolution" that will transform the current global financial system.

Some people have fallen victim to Skirkanič's promises.

Marta Sýkorová, who believed in the promises of SPD ROD, has filed a criminal complaint, alleging that the cooperative has landed her in severe financial trouble. Sýkorová, who wanted to build a small seniors' home for retirees, says she has struggled to obtain the financing promised by Skirkanič and his associates, leaving her in a difficult financial situation.

Central bank warns against SPD ROD

The situation has led Sýkorová to seek out other deceived members of SPD ROD to file additional criminal complaints against the cooperative's leadership.

Currently, the police are investigating two criminal complaints related to SPD ROD.

While the organisation's leader, Skirkanič, claims that everything is being done in line with international law, authorities are taking the allegations seriously.

The National Bank of Slovakia had previously warned against the activities of SPD ROD, noting that the organisation lacked the required permits to operate in the financial market, prompting further questions about its legitimacy.