Former police chief Gašpar faces testimony in Slovak Očistec corruption trial

In the ongoing Očistec case at the Specialized Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica, former NAKA director Bernard Slobodník gave his third consecutive day of testimony. He described how former police president Tibor Gašpar and businessman Norbert Bödör allegedly directed a criminal group within the police to protect Juraj Široký and to intervene in investigations such as the Váhostav affair.

Slobodník recounted receiving a sports bag filled with roughly €200,000 in €5, €10 and €20 notes from ex‑policeman Marián Kučerka, allegedly on orders from Gašpar and Bödör. The money was split into three portions of about €66,000 each, with one kept by Slobodník and the rest returned to the bag. He also said the bag was “almost full of banknotes.”

The witness linked the cash to bribery involving the Jopi Trade investigation, claiming the funds were meant to ensure favourable treatment for the company. Gašpar and Bödör, both co‑defendants, attended the hearings. The court barred live online coverage, allowing media reporting only after each day's proceedings.

The trial examines accusations that a network of senior police officials operated as an organized‑crime group between 2012 and 2018, influencing investigations and awarding state contracts in exchange for payments.