THE ČADCA District Court has upheld the original verdict for Ján Slota, former chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS), punishing him with a €5,000 fine and a 16-month ban from driving. If Slota fails to pay the sum, he could spend three months in prison. The verdict is not yet valid, as either of the two sides can appeal, the SITA newswire reported on November 26.
Slota faced up to one year in prison for drunk-driving and his driving license was suspended after he was detained by police in Čadca on May 9 while attempting to flee traffic officers. When he refused to submit to a breathalyser test or provide a blood sample, he was automatically deemed to have a blood-alcohol level above 1 part per thousand (and thus liable for criminal prosecution) and was placed into custody. He was released only a few hours after his arrest and as a result avoided the super-fast-tracked proceeding typically used in such cases.
In mid-September, the court sentenced him to a fine of €5,000 and a ban on driving for 16 months, avoiding a more serious sentence. Yet, the prosecutor appealed the original verdict, asking for a €5,000 fine and 24-month ban from driving.
Slota was not present at today’s proceeding, SITA wrote.
Source: SITA
For more information about this story please see: Prosecutor appeals verdict on Slota, who may yet see jail time
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
