PS: Investigation into Gaspar's Crash Incomprehensible, We Demand MP Probe

Bratislava, 20 January (TASR) – The investigation into a traffic accident involving Slovak Information Service (SIS) director Pavol Gaspar is incomprehensible and, therefore, the opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) party wants to initiate a parliamentary inquiry at the relevant authorities that have dealt with and will deal with the case, the PS press department told TASR on Tuesday. PS is also calling on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to submit a detailed report on the clarification of the accident. MP Jaroslav Spisiak (PS) believes that the relevant Interior Ministry authorities have acted from the very beginning in a way that seriously calls into question the objectivity of the investigation into the traffic accident. According to him, there are therefore reasonable suspicions that the case is not being investigated independently. "For this reason, I will propose to the Defence and Security Committee that a parliamentary inquiry be carried out at the relevant authorities that have dealt with and will deal with the accident involving Pavol Gaspar. I will also propose summoning Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok to submit a detailed report on the course of the investigation, which would rule out or confirm our suspicions," Spisiak said. Zuzana Stevulova (PS), a member of the House Committee for Supervision of the SIS, considers it incomprehensible that the investigation of the accident took four months. "At the same time, the public still does not know who is to blame. As a public official, Pavol Gaspar should primarily be interested in clarifying the whole matter. And the police in Nitra should be concerned about not appearing to cover for someone at all costs," she stressed. Police have concluded the investigation of last year's traffic accident involving the SIS chief. A report on the result of the misdemeanour investigation has been submitted to the competent administrative authority. "Only this authority can decide in subsequent proceedings on the guilt or innocence of the person suspected of committing the misdemeanour and, if necessary, impose a sanction," said Tomas Havetta, spokesperson for the Nitra Regional Police Directorate. The traffic accident occurred on 30 August in Nitra on Dobsinskeho Street. A minor suffered light injuries in a collision between two passenger cars. Police subjected both participants in the accident to breath tests for alcohol, with negative results in both cases. mf