The Supreme Court turned aside another attempt by Finance Ministry auditors to carry out an inspection on Monday, October 25, the TASR newswire was told by the court’s press and information department. The dispute between the two government institutions is already before the Regional Court in Bratislava.
"Only the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) wields the right to supervise the Supreme Court. Why doesn't Mr. Mikloš hurry on over to supervise the Hayek [Consulting] case ... instead he is besieging the Supreme Court just as the Tipos case is about to get decided? He's probably afraid that he'll have to assume responsibility for illegal machinations before the Regional Court in Bratislava, and so he's politically paving the way for the Special Task Force intervention at the Supreme Court," said Supreme Court Chairman Štefan Harabin, who was Justice Minister until 2009.
The dispute between the Finance Ministry and the court has been ongoing since July as the court has repeatedly rejected all attempts to carry out an audit by the ministry. As a result, the ministry imposed fines and filed criminal complaints. In retaliation, the Supreme Court informed parliament on October 13 that it has sought legal action against the unlawful fine levied on the court by Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš.
"It seems that Supreme Court Chairman Štefan Harabin has got something to hide," the Finance Ministry commented on its most recent failed attempt to carry out an inspection at the court. The Finance Ministry is also calling on the Justice Ministry to initiate disciplinary action against the court.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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