Mikulec Calls 'Operation Cooperating Defendant' Embarrassing Display of Bullying

Bratislava, 3 March (TASR) - Former interior minister (2020-23) and current MP Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia'-For the People) has described the Internal Affairs Inspectorate's (UIS) 'Operation Cooperating Defendant', during which several police officers have been detained and charged, as an "embarrassing display of bullying" by UIS, TASR reported on Tuesday. MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'-For the people) added that UIS has repeatedly attempted to prosecute these investigators with no success, while making huge mistakes in the process. She added that not many people believe that UIS is independent, given its links to top government officials. "This is what it looks like when someone who's not mentally fit for the job holds office. The 'Curilla group' have faced charges for more than four years. They're not fleeing, they don't avoid questioning or procedural actions, they testify and are enduring those senseless attacks, for which Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) must compensate them and apologise," stated Mikulec. He added that Bratislava I City Court rejected an indictment filed against police investigators known as the 'Curilla group' in February, ruling that a UIS investigator was biased. "On Sunday (1 March), Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), accompanied by House Vice-chair Tibor G., who faces an indictment, used his political power to launch an attack against Michal S., a prosecutor from the Prosecutor-General's Office, and the police investigators centred around Jan C.," stressed Remisova. She added that it's no coincidence that "two days later, UIS, the most compromised police unit under Fico's government, detained this very prosecutor and several National Crime Agency (NAKA) officers from the Curilla group". Remisova also encouraged honest police officers and prosecutors not to be intimidated by political power and urged them to continue to protect the law and public interest. UIS conducted 'Operation Cooperating Defendant' on Tuesday, with an investigator of the UIS's specialised Veritas team detaining and charging four current and two former police officers, plus one civilian, with extortion and abuse of power by a public official, allegedly committed in an organised manner. In addition to those charged, two other suspects have been detained as well. The operation took place across Bratislava, Nitra and Banska Bystrica regions. jrg/df