Slovakia’s Office for the Fight against Corruption has pressed charges against a person identified only as P.H. for manipulating an analysis of the viability of using PPP projects for the construction of the D1 motorway between Martin in Žilina region and Prešov, Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic announced at a press conference on October 28, the TASR newswire reported.
The analysis was allegedly falsified in March 2010 when the ministry was headed by Smer party’s Ľubomír Vážny. The ministry at that time commissioned Wood & Company to draw up an analysis comparing financing of the motorway construction from public sources with that of PPP projects. The analysis claimed that the PPP project would be €546 million more expensive.
"[P.H.] then manipulated the analysis so that the difference would only be €29 million," said Lipšic, adding that the ministry subsequently opted for the PPP project.
The PPP contract was cancelled shortly after Prime Minister Iveta Radičová assumed office. If convicted, P.H. could be sentenced to 10-15 years in jail.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
