Marian Kočner in Supreme Court during the appellate proceeding in the Kuciak murder trial. (source: TASR)
It took two years, but convicted businessman Marian Kočner has finally received a key ruling from the EU Court of Justice – one that could shorten his time behind bars.
On 1 August, the long-awaited judgment was delivered – a decision that could potentially help Kočner in his appeal. He was legally sentenced to 19 years in prison for forging promissory notes involving the Markíza television network. However, his appeal has been pending before the Supreme Court since April 2024.
The appeal represents an extraordinary legal remedy that could see the Supreme Court overturn the January 2021 verdict.
The daily newspaper Sme reported late last year that Kočner and his legal team were planning to exploit a rather complex legal manoeuvre via Luxembourg.
They are counting on the courts to apply the new, more lenient sentencing guidelines introduced by last year’s coalition amendment to the Criminal Code, in accordance with the recent decision from Luxembourg.
Among other changes, the amendment reduced penalties for forging, altering, or unlawfully producing securities – the charges for which Kočner was convicted. The original sentencing range of 12 to 20 years was lowered to 5 to 12 years.
