Judge Acquits Kuffas of Charges of Making Dangerous Threats

Kezmarok, 20 July (TASR) - A judge at Poprad District Court's Kezmarok branch (Presov region) on Monday acquitted Environment Ministry State Secretaries Stefan Kuffa and Filip Kuffa, along with Gregor Kuffa, of making dangerous threats by way of complicity. The alleged victim in the case is Radoslav Ksiazek, a farmer from the town of Kezmarok, and the incident occurred in the summer of 2021. The decision isn't yet final, as the prosecutor from the Poprad District Prosecutor's Office immediately appealed against it. In the reasoning for the verdict, the judge stated, among other things, that the prosecution hadn't presented sufficient evidence to the court. According to the judge, the expert psychological evaluation doesn't constitute evidence capable of proving that the offence was committed. The testimonies of witnesses Alexandra Ksiazekova and Henrieta Bagonova, who weren't directly present during the incident, had limited probative value, according to the judge, and, furthermore, they differed in certain aspects. The judge also pointed out that the victim showed no visible external signs of injury following the attack - such as redness, swelling or bruises - which casts doubt on the sequence of events as he described. The judge also noted that when the evidence was presented, it wasn't proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the incident had occurred. Ksiazek testified in court some time ago that the Kuffas physically assaulted him - allegedly choking him, twisting his nose, and punching him in the thigh - and threatened him. From the outset, the Kuffas have described the charges as unfounded, claiming that this was a politically motivated case and also an act of revenge because Gregor Kuffa began farming in and around Kezmarok, thereby coming into conflict with managing director of a company called Heba Bagonova. am/df