Ministers: 'Operation Cooperating Defendant' Not Linked to Politicians' Stances

Bratislava, 4 March (TASR) - Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD), Justice Minister Boris Susko and Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (both Smer-SD) have denied that the Internal Affairs Inspectorate's (UIS) 'Operation Cooperating Defendant', during which several police officers and civilians were detained and charged on Tuesday (3 March), had any link to the statements made by government officials over the past weekend. Speaking to journalists before the government session held on Wednesday, Takac added that justice has caught up with these officers. Susko was asked if senior coalition Smer-SD leaders were aware of the planned detention of the Curilla group at the time that they held their press conference on Sunday (1 March). "I doubt they knew about it, because if they had known, I personally think that they wouldn't have held that press conference," he replied. He also believes that UIS has sufficient evidence to prove "what was happening here during the previous electoral term". Sutaj Estok also denied any link between the detention of prosecutor from the Prosecutor General's Office Michal S. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] and the fact that this very prosecutor has filed charges in the Purgatory Case, including against House Vice-chair Tibor G. Takac stated that the only information he has is from the media. "For me, as a layman, it's been clearly proven that these people broke the law and abused the system. I think that they are now being caught up by their past actions from 2020 to 2023. Of course, we'll wait and see, and I don't want to draw any conclusions myself, but there were apparently relevant reasons and evidence for the inspectorate to take action against these 'Curilla Group' members," added Takac. UIS conducted 'Operation Cooperating Defendant' on Tuesday, 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. Several opposition representatives have criticised the police operation, as the detentions took place only two days after Prime Minister Robert Fico, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (both Smer-SD) and the Prime Minister's advisor Marek Para held a press conference during which they lambasted the work of the law-enforcement authorities between 2020 and 2023. According to the opposition, the operation was carried out at political behest and out of revenge, as the detained included investigators involved in the Purgatory Case. UIS has also rejected any connection with the stances of politicians. jrg/df