Fico: Most Appropriate Solution Is to Scrap Institution of Cooperating Defendant

Bratislava, 15 February (TASR) - The most appropriate solution would be to amend the Penal Code and completely abolish the institution of the cooperating defendant, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Sunday in response to the decision of the Constitutional Court to suspend the effect of the amendment to the Penal Code concerning the inadmissibility of evidence from cooperating defendants. Fico described the institution as unreliable. "We regret that the Constitutional Court has reached this decision. I repeat, I respect it, but given these absurdities and outrageousness, it's our duty to consider how we can reform the system of cooperating defendants, informers, and rogues, because in its current state, it is absolutely unacceptable and downright dangerous for the democratic political system," he said. The premier also criticised the actions of Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka, suggesting that he had sided with the opposition. "Never before has the prosecutor's office entered into a political battle as it has done in the last two to three weeks," he said. The Constitutional Court has suspended this week the effect of the amendment concerning the inadmissibility of evidence obtained from a cooperating defendant. It didn't grant a request to suspend the remainder of the amendment to the Criminal Code adopted by Parliament last December. The decision relates to a submission by a group of opposition MPs, which the court has accepted for further proceedings. The amendment to the Penal Code was also challenged before the Constitutional Court by Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka and the Specialised Criminal Court (STS). The Constitutional Court also accepted their proposals for further proceedings, combining them into a joint proceeding. am