Róbert Lališ (source: TASR)
Former head of the Sýkorovci organised crime group, Róbert Lališ, aka Kýbel (Bucket), has been given a life sentence for the fourth time. This time, it was from the Supreme Court senate, which ended the proceeding concerning six mafia murders on June 13, the Sme daily reported.
Apart from Lališ, his two accomplices from the Sýkorovci group received long-term punishments. Ivan Cupper (aka Vincko) was sentenced to life, while Martin Bihári (nicknamed Rus) will spend 23 years in prison.
Another tried member of the group, Alojz Kromka, was found guilty but did not receive any punishment since he is already serving a life sentence for a different murder, Sme reported.
The group has been active in the Bratislava, Senec and Záhorie region since 1990s.
Harabin has submitted several complaints
The three-member senate issued the verdict despite the fact that one of its members, former Supreme Court president Štefan Harabin, declared on June 12 that the whole senate was illegal.
Harabin has even filed several criminal complaints in this case. This includes the remaining members of the Supreme Court senate, Supreme Court President Daniela Švecová, the prosecutor in this case, and the Specialised Criminal Court senate, Sme wrote.
In addition, there was a dispute between Harabin and the remaining two members of the senate, its chair Pavol Farkaš and another member Dana Wänkeová, at the beginning of the June 13 proceeding. Farkaš did not like the way how Harabin interfered with the proceeding one day before.
“The senate member, without permission from the senate’s chair to speak, willfully addressed Kromka, asking him whether he objects to the senate,” Farkaš said, as quoted by Sme, adding that in this way he just offered an answer to one of the accused.
Harabin responded that the senate’s chair is lying, as reported by Sme.
Harabin’s behaviour questioned
Due to the dispute, the verdict was issued later than expected.
Meanwhile, Švecová called Harabin’s behaviour non-standard. She added that it could mar the proceeding.
“Regarding the composition of the senate deciding in the Lališ & co. case, it needs to be clearly stated that this senate was composed legally and in compliance with the Supreme Court’s work schedule,” said Alexandra Važanová, the court’s spokesperson, as quoted by Sme.
