SaS Finds Kalinak's Comments on Specialised Criminal Court Outrageous (2)

Bratislava, 29 September (TASR) – The opposition's Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party lambasted Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) on Monday over his recent comments regarding the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) with respect to the case of Daniel B. [name abbreviated for legal reasons], describing them as outrageous and raising concerns about a potential attempt to dismantle the court. At a press conference on the same day, SaS MPs Maria Kolikova and Ondrej Dostal expressed their apprehensions, noting that although no official bill to abolish the STS has been submitted, such a move remains a real threat. "We haven't seen a bill yet – that's true. But this must be watched very, very closely because there were clear indications early in this government's term of a desire to dismantle the Specialised Criminal Court," Kolikova said. The MP pointed to the recent dissolution of several anti-corruption institutions, including the National Crime Agency (NAKA) and the Special Prosecutor's Office, which were based on what she sees as deliberate misinformation. In the case of Daniel B., Kolikova clarified that it was the Supreme Court – not the STS – that ordered his remand in custody. "It is clear, just like in the disgraceful amendments to the Criminal Codes, that any lie will suffice if it helps eliminate institutions capable of effectively prosecuting corruption," she added. Dostal suggested that Kalinak may have violated the constitutional law on the protection of public interest. "In a decent country, it would be unacceptable for a minister — whose law firm represents a prosecuted and now indicted extremist — to publicly exert pressure on the court handling his client's case, thereby misusing his position to serve personal interests, to the benefit of his client," he stated. The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) would also oppose the possible scrapping of the STS, seeing no reason for it, KDH vice-chair Viliam Karas told journalists in Parliament. He also criticised Kalinak's statement, considering it to be unacceptable for a member of the government to attack an independent institution of the judiciary, especially in a case where his law firm represents the person in question. "This is crossing a red line," he added. Kalinak, during a televised debate, questioned the justification for Daniel B.'s pre-trial detention. Daniel B. is currently facing charges related to extremist criminal activity. Kalinak called the detention one of the most scandalous cases since the end of Eduard Heger's government, accusing the STS of disregarding prior rulings and allegedly yielding to media pressure. He raised the question of whether the court remains a productive part of the judicial system. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraph 6. am/mcs