Kubina: Charges Expanded Against Ex-NAKA Officers in Cooperating Defendant Case

Bratislava, 27 July (TASR) - Police officers Pavol D., Robert M. and Branislav D. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons], centered around Jan Curilla, have had charges against them expanded in the Cooperating Defendant case to include an additional offence, their lawyer, Peter Kubina, announced on social media on Monday. Former police officer Jan K., who has already been convicted in a separate case, has also been charged. Kubina said the new allegation concerns the escort of a cooperating defendant in the Takacovci criminal case from custody, during which investigators allegedly carried out an operational verification of information relating to an arson attack on a building in Most pri Bratislave. "Investigator Kamas claims that during this verification, officers of the National Crime Agency instructed the defendant on how to testify and which building he should identify as the one he had set on fire," Kubina said. He added that unless the prosecutor withdraws the charges, the defence will file a complaint within the statutory deadline. The Internal Affairs Inspectorate confirmed to TASR that on 20 July the charges against Pavol D., Robert M., Branislav D. and Jan K. were expanded to include the continuing offence of misuse of power by a public official. "As the investigation is ongoing, we will not provide further information regarding the expansion of the charges," police inspection spokesperson Andrea Dobiasova said. As part of Operation Cooperating Defendant, the Internal Affairs Inspectorate detained and charged four serving police officers, two former police officers and one civilian on 3 March. They face charges of extortion and misuse of power by a public official, allegedly committed in an organised manner. The prosecutor sought pre-trial detention for Jan C. and Pavol D. However, on 6 March Bratislava I City Court ordered their release, ruling that the Trnava Regional Prosecutor's Office had submitted the detention request to a court without jurisdiction. Following the prosecutor's appeal, the Bratislava Regional Court upheld the city court's reasoning. mf