Prosecutor Spirko Found Guilty by Committee, No Punishment Imposed
Kosice, June 8 (TASR) – Prosecutor Vasil Spirko of the Special Prosecutor’s Office was found guilty by the disciplinary committee on Friday, yet the committee chose not to impose punishment, TASR learnt on the same day.
The committee dealt with Spirko over his public statements on corruption allegations against ex-interior minister Robert Kalinak and ex-finance minister Jan Pociatek (both Smer-SD).
In the verdict, committee chair Kristian Kuko stated that Spirko violated duties of the prosecutor and hence committed a disciplinary transgression against the law, but the committee opted to forbear from imposing disciplinary measures. “In light of the nature of the transgression, it is reasonable to expect that having the disciplinary committee deliberate on the matter is sufficient,” said Kuko.
“In essence, it could be said that the disciplinary committee ruled almost in accordance with my motion, so I could be happy, but let me tell you honestly that I’m not. I can’t be happy and I don’t feel like a winner. It’s not easy for the chief prosecutor to lodge proposals for disciplinary proceedings against his own people, who, essentially, do their jobs well. But during the proceedings, I was under impression that even my colleague realised that he could have acted differently,” said Special Prosecutor Dusan Kovacik, adding that he proposed the lightest form of punishment: cut in base salary.
As for suspicions floated by Spirko, Kovacik responded that the case is still current. “I can’t make a comment. It’s not up to me to comment but the investigators,” he declared.
Spirko relinquished his right to appeal, thus making the verdict valid, as his line of argumentation was accommodated, too. “Due to the fact that I’m a prosecutor, I’m aware that I made several legal missteps, whether concerning the duties of prosecutor or directly orders by the Prosecutor-General. I won’t cowardly pretend that that didn’t happen. After all, I mentioned this in my speech as well. Because of this, I perceive this punishment and the verdict reached by the disciplinary committee as lawful,” he said.
When asked whether he would have done the same thing again if he could turn back the time, Spirko replied: “My conduct was guided by my inner beliefs, values, my moral integrity and circumstances existing back then. I certainly don’t regret my conduct and wouldn’t have changed anything at all,” he stated.
Spirko was the prosecutor originally assigned to the investigation into the case of ex-interior minister Kalinak buying a share in a firm called B.A. Haus from suspected tax fraudster Ladislav Basternak. In early March, Spirko stated before journalists that ex-finance minister Pociatek and ex-minister Kalinak “siphoned off” €200 million of taxpayer money in a shady tender on IT commissions and announced that he was going to file a criminal complaint against Kalinak over slander.
