Disciplinary Proceedings against Prosecutor Spirko Begin in Kosice

Kosice, June 7 (TASR) – Disciplinary proceedings involving special prosecutor Vasil Spirko and his public speech related to scandals involving former interior minister Robert Kalinak and former transport minister Jan Pociatek began at the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Kosice on Thursday.

The proceedings are taking place behind closed doors.

A disciplinary commission has proposed punishing prosecutor Spirko with a financial sanction, as it considers his action to be a more serious offence.

Spirko supervised the investigation of then interior minister Kalinak concerning the purchase of a stake in a company called B. A. Haus from Ladislav Basternak, who has been charged with a tax-related crime. Earlier in March, Spirko told reporters that Pociatek and Kalinak “had withdrawn” €200 million from the Interior Ministry via suspected IT procurement activities. He also filed a criminal complaint against Kalinak over suspicions of sabotage.

“I want all the facts and reasons to be examined for which I was purposefully prosecuted for actions that hadn’t been confirmed. That’s why I’m filing a criminal complaint against [then] Interior Minister Robert Kalinak and individuals holding the posts of Police Corps president, National Crime Agency (NAKA) director and Anti-corruption Unit director on suspicions of sabotage,” Spirko told a news conference in March.

[Kalinak (Smer-SD) resigned as part of a Government overhaul following the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova – ed. note].