House search at Kočner’s property in Chrasťová 22, Bratislava, on October 16, 2018. (source: Sme)
Slovak police are conducting house searches at the properties belonging to controversial businessman Marian Kočner, in connection with his violent crimes. Kočner is taking part in the house searches in person, the Sme daily wrote on October 16 on its website.
Currently, a criminal prosecution has been opened against Kočner, due to financial criminality in three cases, including the case of alleged promissory notes of the private TV broadcaster Markíza. He is currently held in pre-trial custody in connection with this crime.
Police started the operation in his flat in the much publicised Bonaparte development complex and in the Five Stars Residence in Bratislava, the Denník N wrote, adding that they are to continue in about 20 other places, including in the nearby village of Bernolákovo.
Not only economic criminality
The fact that police have published the reason for the house searches in his homes – violent crimes – means that in Kočner’s case, a crime other than economic being investigated until now is involved, Sme wrote.
After four people have been detained in connection with the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, the information surfaced, according to Sme, that the main ordering party of the case is Kočner. The former was killed together with his fiancée Martina Kušnírová on February 21, 2018 in their house in Veľká Mača by shots from a 9mm handgun. The ordering person paid at least €70,000 for the murder.
The originals of the Markíza promissory notes may surface during the raids, too, Sme pointed out in a separate story published on the same day.
Four suspects charged so far
As of October 16, four people have been charged in connection with this murder - interpreter Alena Zs., who allegedly paid for ordering Kuciak’s murder, alleged hitman Tomáš Sz., Miroslav M. who is believed to have driven him from the crime site, and Zoltán A. as the go-between.
The last suspect allegedly testified that Marian Kočner is the main ordering party behind the killing.
The Plus 7 Dní Weekly last week published a photo showing Kočner with the interpreter Zs. The picture was taken by the end of January 2018, i.e. about one month before the Kuciak murder and about ten days before the alleged murderers started reconnoitring the future crime site, Sme wrote.
