Slovakia’s Supreme Court has released Miroslav D., who was charged with manipulation of public procurements in the Defence Ministry, from pre-trial custody, the SITA newswire reported.
The Supreme Court did not announce the reasons why its senate sitting behind closed doors decided that the man charged with accepting bribes from companies taking part in the Defence Ministry's tenders will not be held in custody before his trial, SITA wrote.
The Special Court in Banská Bystrica ordered Miroslav D. to be taken into custody on August 20 on concerns that he might influence witnesses and continue criminal activities. The accused filed an appeal against the decision which was taken up by the Supreme Court.
Slovak media reported that when the police arrested Miroslav D. he had €176,000 in cash in more than ten envelopes, each with an amount and a name of a company written on it. Investigators charged him with having influenced ten tenders at the Defence Ministry with bribes.
If it is proven that the money involved bribes, it would be the highest amount of cash ever seized in a corruption case, SITA wrote. Former Defence Minister Jaroslav Baška (Smer) insists that he knows nothing about any bribery scheme going on at the ministry.
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.
