Sutaj Estok: Bena Detained in Congo on Suspicion of Engaging in Espionage

Bratislava, April 18 (TASR) - Former deputy director of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) Boris Bena has been detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo on suspicion of espionage, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) told a news conference on Thursday. "Information from SIS is available to us that he has been detained in Congo on suspicion of engaging in espionage," said the minister, adding that he only learnt about the detention on Wednesday (April 17) evening. The Justice Ministry has told TASR that its department of judicial cooperation in criminal matters does not register any file on Bena and has no information about his detention abroad, either. Bena's lawyer Peter Kubina has told TASR that Bena isn't wanted by Slovak authorities and that he has been working in Africa. Bena concluded a plea bargain in 2021, receiving a three-year sentence suspended for five years for accepting a bribe and jeopardising classified information. In addition, he was fined €14,000. He was detained in early December 2020 under Operation Judas. ko