Slovak Corruption Trial Postponed Due to Lawyer Change

The main trial at the Specialized Criminal Court (ŠTS) in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, involving lawyers Alexander F. and Peter J. – detained in the "Corrumpere 2" police operation in 2023 – has been postponed. The court cited the need for mandatory legal representation for one of the accused as the reason for the delay.

According to ŠTS spokesperson Iveta Pulman Erdélyiová, the trial scheduled for today could not proceed because Alexander F. submitted notification of the termination of his defense attorneys' legal representation before the proceedings began. As his case requires mandatory defense, the conditions for holding the main trial were not met. The proceedings have been adjourned until the next scheduled date on June 4, with other upcoming dates remaining valid.

The two lawyers face charges of indirect corruption through participation. During the first day of the trial on May 21, the court heard testimony from the accused and read minutes from witness interrogations.

Police apprehended the two lawyers along with a doctor, M. L., in September 2023 on suspicion of corruption. At the time, police stated that the individuals were accused of engaging in corrupt activities in the past, specifically related to arranging the release of individuals held in custody as part of the "Média" police operation investigated by the National Criminal Agency between 2017 and 2021.

Later, the investigator filed a motion for the pre-trial detention of the lawyers. However, the ŠTS decided to keep them on bail, a decision subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic. Alexander F. has a prior conviction, having received a suspended sentence in the past for cooperation with the "Takáčovci" criminal group. He also had his driver's license suspended previously for drunk driving.

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Today's main hearing did not take place because the accused Alexander F. submitted a notification of the termination of his defense attorneys' legal representation before the start of the hearing. Since this is a case of mandatory defense, the conditions for holding the main hearing were not met. It was adjourned until the next scheduled trial date of June 4.