STS: Michal S. Found Guilty in Toll Collector Case, Fined €500,000

Banska Bystrica, 22 October (TASR) - Businessman Michal S.(name abbreviated due to legal reasons) was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of €500,000 by the Specialised Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica on Wednesday. Relating to the Toll Collector corruption case, he was charged with the criminal offence of manipulation in public procurement and public auctions, as well as a breach of obligations in the management of someone else's property and money-laundering. He was acquitted of the final count of his indictment. The verdict is not yet final, as it can be appealed against. The Toll Collector case involves suspicions of overpriced IT tenders at Financial Administration (the tax and customs office), allegedly benefiting the defendant's company Allexis. During the trial, which commenced in May, Michal S. claimed that the criminal prosecution against him was completely groundless, insisting that he'd never engaged in any manipulation of a public procurement. He argued that Allexis supplied IT systems to Financial Administration in line with the law and at fair prices, adding that the IT systems have generated more than €7 billion for the state. In their closing statements, both the defence and Michal S. himself demanded acquittal, arguing that the charges hadn't been proven. The prosecutor didn't suggest a specific sentence, leaving the decision to the court. STS initially ordered Michal S. to pay a fine of €900,000, but after he lodged an appeal, the court held the main trial. jrg/df