Verdict in Case of Former Justice Minister Gabor G. to Be Announced Monday

Bratislava, 29 June (TASR) – The Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the case of former justice minister Gabor G. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] on Monday (June 30), it follows from the court schedule published on the website of the Justice Ministry. According to the indictment, the former minister allegedly accepted a bribe in exchange for securing the unblocking of decision-making processes within the Slovak Land Fund. From the start of the main trial, Gabor G. has maintained his innocence, calling the charges fabricated. He repeatedly stated that not only did he never ask for or accept a bribe from key witness Jan Gajan, but that he doesn't even know the witness and has never met him. The prosecutor is seeking a suspended prison sentence for the accused at the upper end of the sentencing range, as well as a monetary fine of at least €80,000. Gabor G. has requested full acquittal. The former official was charged by a National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigator in 2022 with accepting a bribe. The indictment alleges that in 2018, Gabor G. accepted a bribe of €50,000 to facilitate the unblocking of internal procedures at the Slovak Land Fund. Charges against co-defendant Ladislav K. were dropped due to the statute of limitations. mf