STS Adjourns Trial in Purgatory Case until June

Banska Bystrica, 11 May (TASR) - The high-profile trial in the Purgatory case involving former top police and security forces officials suspected of setting up and operating a criminal group between 2012 and 2018 was adjourned by the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Banska Bystrica on Monday and is set to resume on 1 June, TASR reported on the same day. The prosecutor didn't even start reading the extensive indictment. The trial was adjourned due to a procedural motion requesting that the indictment should be joined with a different case involving former police officer Roman S. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons]. The two cases overlap, and if the court didn't merge them, the taking of evidence would have to be carried out twice. The prosecutor stated that he doesn't view this move as an obstruction, as it will in no way disrupt the proceedings, and he described it as expedient. All of the ten defendants appeared in court on Monday, including Nitra-based businessman Norbert B., current House Vice-chair and former police chief (2012-18) Tibor G. and former special prosecutor Dusan K. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons]. In addition, former Financial Administration chief Frantisek I. and high-ranking officials of the now-defunct National Crime Agency (NAKA) Peter H., Marian Z., Robert K., Bernard S., Milan M. and businessman Boris T. took their seats in the dock. They are charged with setting up, orchestrating and supporting a criminal group, bribery and accepting bribes, and abusing public office. According to the indictment, the group was allegedly masterminded by Norbert B. Several of the defendants have publicly denied the charges on multiple occasions, labelling the trial politically motivated. jrg/df