'For the People' Files Criminal Complaint against Interior Minister

Bratislava, 21 May (TASR) - The opposition 'For the People' party has filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) on the suspicion that he's misused the powers of a public official when it comes to actions concerning the police officers centered around Jan Curilla, party chair Veronika Remisova and vice-chair Jan Magusin announced at a press conference on Thursday. Remisova said that the interior minister unlawfully suspended the police officers from duty, noting that courts have confirmed this in two cases. "Instead of remedying the situation, the interior minister — who is supposed to oversee compliance with the law — arrogantly shows that court decisions don't apply to him and that he doesn't have to respect the law," she said. She questioned what kind of example the minister is setting for the public. Remisova also accused Sutaj Estok of bias in disputes involving the police officers. Magusin stated that the minister was biased against them even before taking up office. "Long-term public statements by Matus Sutaj Estok directed at these police officers demonstrate a strongly negative attitude towards them, and it is difficult to speak of any impartiality. Therefore, in our opinion, there is a suspicion that the minister's unlawful conduct may also have been intended to cause damage to these police officers, which could meet the conditions of a criminal offence. It will now be up to the prosecution service to examine this suspicion and decide on further legal steps," said Magusin. mf/df