David Lindtner arrives at the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica on 18 April 2025. (source: TASR - Ján Krošlák)
A prosecutor is under pressure after forwarding allegations of judicial corruption involving a close adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico.
In March, Prosecutor Peter Kysel passed information to police for review following unexpected testimony implicating David Lindtner, a former judge now serving as Fico’s legislative adviser, in alleged bribery, according to Sme. Days later, Lindtner filed a criminal complaint against Kysel, accusing him of abuse of power and inciting false testimony.
The case is politically sensitive. Lindtner is being considered for top posts, including general prosecutor, and currently serves on the supervisory council of Slovakia’s public broadcaster.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, Kysel’s submission was deemed significant and referred to police. Officials declined to name the police unit involved, citing the early stage of the investigation. “We are not providing further details at this point,” a spokesperson said. Police have offered no additional comment.
The corruption allegation surfaced during a March hearing in a separate organised crime case. Dávid Takáč, a former member of the notorious Sýkorovci gang, told the Specialised Criminal Court he once drove ex-intelligence agent Ľuboš Kosík, who he claimed had frequent contact with Lindtner when the latter was a judge in Pezinok. Takáč testified that Lindtner had accepted bribes, but offered no evidence or detail.
Kysel, who oversees the Sýkorovci case, was not in court that day. After learning of the testimony, he referred the matter to the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which confirmed it had assigned the case to the Office for Combating Organised Crime.
From left: MP Tibor Gašpar (Smer), Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer), lawyer David Lindtner, Justice Ministry State Secretary Pavol Gašpar, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer), Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer), and lawyer Marek Para during a press conference titled “Why Matovič and the Entire Opposition Are Shouting to Save Lipšic” in Bratislava on 10 January 2024. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Though Lindtner denies any wrongdoing, he lashed out in an official statement, accusing Kysel of orchestrating a smear campaign. He claimed the prosecutor may have influenced the witness in an attempt to discredit him “at a time when his name is being mentioned for senior public office”.
Takáč’s claims have been rebutted by Kosík, who now lives in Mali and has been convicted in Slovakia for fraud. Kosík admitted he knew Lindtner but denied any bribery, saying their contact came through former SIS intelligence chief Ivan Lexa. Kosík has also been charged in Slovakia’s infamous 1995 presidential kidnapping case.
While Lindtner denied ever meeting Takáč, he has not commented on his past ties with Kosík, nor has he responded to recent media inquiries. Despite the serious nature of the claims, the statute of limitations for corruption – five years in Slovakia – means the case, which allegedly dates back to around 2010, may already be time-barred.
Still, authorities say the matter remains in preliminary proceedings, with no decisions made yet.
David Lindtner and indicted YouTuber and extremist Daniel Bombic arrive at the Supreme Court in Bratislava on 6 February 2025. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Lindtner’s past has repeatedly drawn scrutiny. Once head of Bratislava’s District Court III, he was expected to handle the reopened case of the 1995 presidential kidnapping after controversial amnesties were overturned. But in 2019, his encrypted chats with convicted fraudster Marian Kočner were leaked, prompting him to step down and later give up his judgeship entirely.
He now co-owns a law firm founded by Smer’s Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and advises Fico directly. He is also defending the prime minister in court over last year’s assassination attempt.
Separately, Lindtner himself is on trial, facing charges of bribery and interference with judicial independence in the sweeping “Búrka” (storm) corruption case.
Slovak police have confirmed that Kosík remains in Mali and that their request for extradition has been denied. “Despite the efforts of Slovak authorities, Interpol Bamako is not cooperating,” a court in Bratislava was informed.
