Judicial Council Suspends Tenure of Judge Cvikova, Not of Maruniakova

Bratislava, January 28 (TASR) - The Judicial Council suspended the tenure of Bratislava I District Court judge Denisa Cvikova based on a motion lodged by Justice Minister Gabor Gal (Most-Hid) on Tuesday, TASR learnt from Judicial Council Chair Lenka Prazenkova. Her half-year suspension is taking effect immediately and can be extended to one year. Concerning another judge included in Gal's motion, Bratislava V District Court judge Zuzana Maruniakova, the Judicial Council didn't approve the minister's proposal for her suspension. The judge is currently on maternity leave and the new legislation doesn"t specify how it is with suspension, if a judge isn't performing the post at the moment. Gal has lodged a motion to suspend the two judges' tenures over their questionable activities benefiting Marian K. According to him, both Maruniakova and Cvikova have grossly undermined the trustworthiness of the judiciary and inspired substantiated doubts about their worthiness as judges. Maruniakova and Cvikova are frequently mentioned in the alleged Threema chats between Marian K., an entrepreneur who faces charges of ordering the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak, and Monika Jankovska, another currently suspended judge and former Justice Ministry state secretary. Maruniakova handed down rulings in favour of Marian K. in the case of TV Markiza promissory notes and Cvikova helped draft the verdict despite the fact the case hadn't been assigned to her. ko/mcs/zel