Seliga Wants Judicial Council to Look into Judge Truban's Decision

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - House vice-chair Juraj Seliga (For the People) has lodged a complaint with Judicial Council chair Jan Mazak over the decision taken by Specialised Criminal Court judge Michal Truban not to remand entrepreneur Norbert B. in custody, TASR learnt on Monday. In addition, Seliga will once again challenge the merits of the security clearance issued to Norbert B.'s security firm Bonul by the National Security Authority (NBU). Seliga pointed to the yawning difference between the decisions of the Specialised Criminal Court and the Supreme Court, the latter of which remanded Norbert B. in custody. "On one hand there's a judge [Truban] who says there is no evidence to remand someone in custody. On the other, the Supreme Court says that this is one of the biggest corruption cases in Slovak history and orders custody," Seliga stated at a press conference. The House vice-chair conceded that he has no right to interfere in judicial decisions, neither as a citizen nor a politician, but this doesn't mean that judges should be beyond all reproach. As the power to initiate proceedings against judges is invested in the Judicial Council, Seliga intends to avoid any suspicions of political interference by filing a complaint with Mazak. As for Bonul's security clearance, Seliga will once again appeal to NBU. The first time he did so was a year ago. The House vice-chair took potshots at the security authority for failing to strip Bonul of clearance. "If NBU doesn't take any action, my colleagues and I will initiate the convening of the House's special committee for supervising NBU activities," he said. Norbert B. faces charges of money laundering in the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) corruption case, which involves bribes worth more than €10 million. mf/df/ko