THE OPPOSITION Movement for Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) deputy, Gabriel Karlin was found guilty by the Banská Bystrica Regional Court and sentenced to one-year in prison and a fine of Sk100,000 (€2,500).
This is a very first case that any Slovak court has found a parliamentary deputy guilty of corruption, writes the Pravda daily.
The judge was presented with evidence placing Karlin at the scene of a crime and requesting a bribe of Sk500,000 (12,500) from a local businessman. Karlin was caught red- handed after the businessman left his office.
The money was found in Karlin's briefcase. Karlin's defence attorney argued that Karlin collected the money for somebody else and that he is actually a victim of a conspiracy.
Karlin is appealing the Banská Bystrica court ruling.
Compiled by Magdalena MacLeod from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
