Slovakia’s prime police officer says the previous and present heads of the nation’s spy company and 5 different police and intelligence officers have been accused of abuse of energy and felony conspiracy in a scandal forward of an upcoming early election
ByThe Related Press
August 17, 2023, 11:54 AM
FILE – President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova delivers her speech on the European Parliament, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022 in Strasbourg. Slovakia’s prime police officer mentioned on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 that the previous and present heads of the nation’s spy company and 5 different police and intelligence officers have been accused of abuse of energy and felony conspiracy in a delicate case forward of the forthcoming snap election. (AP Photograph, File)
The Related Press
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The previous and present heads of Slovakia’s spy company and 5 different police and intelligence officers have been accused of abuse of energy and felony conspiracy, the highest police officer introduced Thursday, in a scandal {that a} former chief referred to as “a police coup” forward of an upcoming early election.
Stefan Hamran mentioned the top of the Nationwide Safety Authority and the previous chief of the spy company often called SIS additionally face abuse of energy costs in an analogous however a separate case.
Within the first case, Hamran mentioned the seven conspired as a felony group led by a businessman recognized as Peter Ok to impede investigations in corruption {cases} that date to the period of former leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico earlier than 2020.
On account of their actions, 4 investigators from the Nationwide Legal Company have been detained and accused of manipulating testimonies till a courtroom dismissed the allegation.
Within the second case, the 2 are accused of conspiring to do away with officers within the safety authority, which points clearances permitting officers to entry categorised info.
Slovakia is split forward of the early election. Fico, who needs to return to energy, has charged that such a transfer so near the election is supposed to hurt his social gathering and the opposition. His opponents say police ought to examine the allegations.
Fico referred to as the event a “police coup,” demanded Hamran’s dismissal and referred to as for a unprecedented session of Parliament to debate the difficulty.
President Zuzana Caputova is to fulfill with members of the present caretaker authorities on Friday to debate the announcement.
Fico’s leftist Smer-Social Democracy social gathering misplaced the 2020 common election and was changed by a coalition authorities whose events campaigned on an anti-corruption ticket.
For the reason that new authorities took energy, numerous senior officers, law enforcement officials, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businesspeople have been charged with corruption and different crimes.
“Let police do their job,” former Prime Minister Eduard Heger mentioned.
Slovakia faces an early election on Sept. 30 after Heger’s authorities misplaced a parliamentary no-confidence vote in December.
Fico, who in contrast to the earlier authorities opposes army assist for Ukraine in its warfare with Russia, stands an opportunity to win the snap vote, latest polls recommend.
