Lawyer Para: Motion Filed to Suspend Sentences of Kocner and Rusko

Bratislava, 22 October (TASR) - The defence lawyers of Marian Kocner and Pavol Rusko, who are currently serving 19-year prison sentences in the case of the counterfeiting of Markiza TV promissory notes, filed a motion with the Supreme Court on Wednesday to suspend their sentences, their lawyer Marek Para confirmed for TASR. Para this week defended his intention to file the motion on the grounds that both convicts have served the maximum length of sentence possible in their case following an amendment to the Penal Code. The defence relied on the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in BAJI Trans. Kocner and Rusko appealed against their convictions last year. The grounds of the appeal include, for example, interference with the rights of the defence and illegally gathered evidence, among which the defence includes communications via a mobile app. The Supreme Court has already set up a panel to deal with the appeal. Kocner and Rusko were sentenced by the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok (Bratislava region) in 2020 in the case of counterfeiting Markiza TV promissory notes to 19-year prison sentences without probation. A year later, the Supreme Court confirmed their sentences. am/df