The higher-instance court has recently ordered a retrial of the case involving the demolition of the PKO cultural hub in Bratislava. The court ruled that in the fast-tracked court trial that occurred last year, the right of Bratislava City - one of the involved parties - for a just trial had been violated, the Sme daily wrote on Tuesday, August 21.
The current PKO building was to be replaced with a project called Riverside City, funded by Henbury Development. The city council approved the sale of the property on which PKO stands in late June 2005 in order to allow for the demolition of the existing structure and construction of the new development. Reportedly, a contract was signed and then-mayor Andrej Ďurkovský (ex-Christian Democratic Movement-KDH) asked the state construction authority for permission to demolish the centre.
The panel of judges of the regional court ruled that the speed of a trial cannot happen at the expense of any involved parties and the judge cannot rush a trial to the point where the city is not allowed to properly defend itself. The trial was led at the district court by Gabriela Buľubašová, who in the past was sacked from the top post of the District Court Bratislava I due to suspicions that she tried to organise the release of an indicted person. Buľubašová announced the verdict on the same day that the city decided to replace its lawyer for the case. She decided for the benefit of Henbury Development, which purchased the land under the PKO and wanted to demolish the structure, Sme wrote.
(Source: Sme)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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