Mikulec: Former Police Corps Chief Acted Lawfully in Halting Intervention Unit

Bratislava, 6 August (TASR) - Former Police Corps President Peter K. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] acted in line with the law in the summer of 2021 when he stopped the Sobrance (Kosice region) mobile intervention unit from apprehending several people, MP and former interior minister Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia', 'For the People', KU) said on Wednesday when testifying as witness before Bratislava I Municipal Court. Peter K. is charged with misusing his powers and obstructing justice, but he denies his guilt. Mikulec explained at the main hearing on Wednesday that, at the time when the intervention unit conducted their operation, he asked Peter K. to find out whether it was lawful, as consent had allegedly been given only verbally at the police inspectorate. "I told Peter K. to check whether the operation was lawful and to do everything possible so it was carried out in accordance with the law. He later called me and said that he had given an instruction to halt the operation, with the mobile intervention unit ordered to remain in place and wait until the legality of the operation could be verified," said Mikulec, adding that a few minutes later, Peter K. informed him that he had instructed the intervention unit to continue. "Allegedly, they had apprehended one person who was released to the police," said Mikulec. In court, Mikulec also spoke about suspected leaks of information from the National Crime Agency (NAKA), explaining that procedures were put in place by the Operation Purgatory team and prosecutors to prevent that from happening. Mikulec said that members of individual investigation teams were under pressure and were allegedly being monitored. According to him, the Slovak Intelligence Service was also involved in the conflict between law-enforcement bodies. The former police chief has faced a criminal investigation since August 2021. He's accused of thwarting the ongoing apprehension of Matej Z. and Peter P. led by the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS)'s Arc investigation team. He views the criminal case against him as purpose-built. Peter K. was tasked with managing the Police Corps on a temporary basis as of September 2020. Following a public contest for the post, then interior minister Roman Mikulec appointed him to the post of Police Corps president in late January 2021. He stepped down from the post as of 15 September 2021. jrg/df/ko