Police Investigator Refiles Charges against Ex-minister Jan B.

Bratislava, 11 June (TASR) - A police investigator refiled charges against former environment minister Jan B. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] on 5 June, Peter Habara of the Police Corps Presidium's communications department has confirmed for TASR. The police in May charged Jan B. with the ongoing crime of violating obligations in the management of somebody else's property in connection with the inefficient, wasteful and purposeless use of Environment Ministry funds. This allegedly caused damage to the state budget worth a total of almost €570,000. The ex-minister in this connection declared that he honestly defended the public interest. He therefore believes that the criminal proceedings will prove to be unfounded. The Bratislava Region Prosecutor's Office dropped the original charges against him for formal and legal reasons. At the same time, the prosecutor ordered an investigator to refile the charges, but in a legal manner. ko/df