ITALIAN journalist Antonio Papaleo who participated in revealing a Slovak scheme of money laundering was stabbed during his holiday in Thailand on July 3. He survived the attack and is recovering in hospital under police protection.
Papaleo, who lives in Slovakia, was attacked by a group of teenagers on motorcycles in Phuket province and robbed of money and his laptop. The police however failed to prove any links with the Slovak case.
Papaleo provided evidence to the police in Hong Kong last year that Slovak businessman Juraj Jariabka hired him to launder money through Chinese banks. In his testimony Papaleo said, that he pretended to be a drug addict in need for money and Jariabka promised him €5,000 for being a straw man and open accounts on his name in Hong Kong. Papaleo secretly recorded his discussions with Jariabka and using his evidence Hong Kong police detained Jariabka in June. Currently, court trial is running in the case.
Papaleo claimed that he reported the case to the Slovak police but it has not taken any steps. Then he approached Hong Kong police which started the investigation. The Slovak Police Presidium did not comment those claims and refused to say how it participates in investigation arguing that it can not provide information without approval of related persons.
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
