Cooperation between the Slovak and Czech authorities in investigating crimes is to be made easier, the SITA newswire wrote. New rules will come into effect on the use of video conferencing, cross-border surveillance, controlled delivery, agents’ work, and bogus money transfers.
The Slovak cabinet on Wednesday, October 17, approved a protocol which will update the 20-year-old treaty between Slovakia and the Czech Republic on legal assistance provided by judicial bodies and on settlement of certain legal relations in civil and criminal matters. Following an agreement with the Czech side, Slovakia has suggested signing the protocol during the first joint session of the Czech and Slovak cabinets, which is planned to take place on October 29 in Trenčín and Uherské Hradiště.
The changed treaty will allow questioning of suspects on the territory of either country by teleconference or videoconference. European conventions will also be applied when joint investigation teams are created. A written agreement on formation of a joint investigation team can be concluded on behalf of the Slovak Republic by the General Prosecutor's Office, and on behalf of the Czech Republic by the Office of the Attorney-General. In penal cases, police officers from one country may obtain evidence by surveillance on the territory of the other country with the consent of the relevant judicial authority. In urgent cases, they can do so without it, but must comply with the rules set out in the treaty.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
