SaS Views UIS's Operation against Police Officers With Concern

Bratislava, 3 March (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party views with concern the detention on Tuesday of former National Crime Agency (NAKA) officers, including Jan C. and prosecutor Michal S., during an operation conducted by the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS), as this is a sensitive issue requiring transparency and clarification from the law-enforcement authorities, Michal Goffa from SaS's communications department told TASR on Tuesday. SaS Vice-chairwoman Maria Kolikova stressed that the investigation should not be subject to political pressure. "On Sunday [1 March], instead of hearing information about the global security situation, we heard Prime Minister Robert Fico, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar [all Smer-SD] and lawyer Marek Para announce a criminal complaint against prosecutor Michal S. A few days later, a police raid follows," she said, asking how else would a politicised process look. According to her, it's a problem when individuals directly involved in the defence of people charged in ongoing investigations turn up at press conferences. "Lawyer Marek Para represents several defendants in sensitive cases. When he stands side by side with the prime minister at a press conference as he announces specific steps against investigators and a prosecutor, that raises serious doubts," said Kolikova. According to SaS MP Juraj Krupa, this situation demonstrates that the security forces have been politicised, while the timing of UIS's operation gives rise to legitimate questions. "This is all about the 'Purgatory Case', in which high-ranking nominees of former Smer governments face charges," he stated, pointing out that UIS falls under the remit of the Interior Ministry led by Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD). UIS conducted 'Operation Cooperating Defendant' on Tuesday, with an investigator of 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