A Trenčín district court judge ruled yesterday that reputed underworld boss Mikuláš Cernák of Banská Bystrica qualified for parole after serving half of his 8.5-year sentence for extortion. The decision was appealed to a higher court by a district state prosecutor, and thus has not yet taken effect.
Slovak judges have been in the hot seat recently following a spate of releases of accused Mafia members.
The burning of a VW Passat earlier this week in east Slovakia’s Košice brings the total in that city to four cars this month that have been set alight following the release in early September from pre-trial custody of seven Košice-area men charged with a 1998 gangland killing.
The release of a gang charged with highway-sticker forgery and led by Nitra underworld boss Ľuboš Ferus in mid-September has also been criticised by justice experts.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
