It is unacceptable for prosecutors to be exposed to pressure concerning their decisions, or to media pressure after issuing a decision, as has happened in the case of the investigation into a recording of a voice resembling that of Smer chairman Robert Fico, said Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik on Thursday. December 9. The voice on the recording was apparently discussing undeclared, and hence illegal, party donations.
According to Kováčik, who on Monday halted an investigation into Smer's financing, "unauthorised persons" have publicly criticised the decision made by a special prosecutor, assessing specific evidence while telling half-truths and even lies. Kováčik was referring to a war of words which erupted between the Interior Ministry and General Prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka on Wednesday, December 8. Kováčik stressed, as quoted by the TASR newswire, that if anybody has doubts about his work, they should use legal options against him instead of acting outside of the law and putting pressure on prosecutors.
He noted that his decision on the controversial case concerning potentially corrupt fund-raising for Smer is only available in the investigation file and the special prosecutor's file. He also said that he had already questioned the police investigator regarding who had had opportunity to view the investigation file.
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.
