DOCTOR Mikuláš Čurik from Trstená in north-western Slovakia won a tender to buy the Tehelná walk-in clinic complex in Bratislava with an offer of Sk165 million (€4.34 million).
The starting price set by the National Property Fund (FNM) privatization agency was Sk46 million (€1.21 million).
Čurik's bid beat the offers of capital groups such as Penta and J&T, the daily SME wrote. It is rare that an individual wins such a tender for a medical centre because of the massive initial investments that are required for repairs and development.
The weekly magazine Plus sedem dní reported that the 60-year-old Čurik lives in a modest two-room flat in an older apartment building. He has lived his entire life in Trstená and does not have a computer or even a typewriter in his office.
Given the buyer's apparent lack of surplus funds, speculation has arisen that Čurik is a cover for a capital group. At the moment the doctor is on holiday and has not commented on the transaction.
FNM spokeswoman Tatjana Lesajová said the fund had received confirmation from a bank that Čurik has the money to cover the purchase.
Compiled by Marta Ďurianová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
