ECONOMY Minister Jirko Malchárek ordered an investigation into state funds given to Switzerland-based investor Universal Media Corporation in Nové Mesto nad Váhom.
Malchárek suspects that the Economy Ministry, under the leadership of Pavol Rusko, mishandled Sk50 million (€1.3 million) in state money.
Assistance that was supposed to go towards the construction of a roundabout around the new plant is at issue.
According to a cabinet decree, the total assistance should have amounted to Sk32 million (€817,000). Malchárek says that Rusko asked for an additonal €1.3 million after the money had been spent on items in the investment contract but not in the cabinet decree "even though it was in direct conflict" with the decree, according to Malchárek.
The state was then forced to release the additional funds fearing sanctions from the investor.
