The construction of D4/R7 ring road. (source: TASR)
The police launched a raid in Bratislava and its surroundings in the early hours of March 28. It is linked to suspicions that contaminated soil is being used for the construction of the Bratislava ring road, the private broadcaster TV Markíza reported.
The police raided a house owned by a representative of the Spanish consortium responsible for the construction of the ring road, as well as several companies suspected of corruption. The raid has also been carried out in the headquarters of the D4/R7 company and at the artificial hill used as a landfill in the Petržalka borough, TV Markíza informed.
An impact on construction
The police have allegedly detained several people, including drivers active in waste management. The police also came to the house of Javier Hidalgo, who represents the Spanish consortium responsible for building the ring road, and took him in for an interrogation, TV Markíza reported.
Moreover, the police officers detailed Michal Grebeči, an authorised representative of the company NDD. They had detained him last year, but he was released after the interrogation. Grebeči is a former colleague of Michal Kováč, from the company Vassal EKO. Both firms are suspected of illegal waste management, most specifically with disposing waste in an illegal landfill, TV Markíza reported.
There is a possibility that the raid will have an impact on the construction of the ring road. The reason is the suspicion that the materials may threaten the operation of both the D4 highway and R7 dual-carriageway in the future, according to the broadcaster.
Minister praises police work
Environment Minister László Sólymos (Most-Híd) appreciated the cooperation of police and the ministry inspectors during the raid.
“We take the fight against environmental criminality seriously,” Sólymos said, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Alongside the police the Environment Ministry has been dealing with suspicions surrounding the construction of the ring road for several months.
“This is the right way, and we support and contribute to the creation of the environmental police in Slovakia,” the minister added, as quoted by TASR.
