Slovakia's Očistec police corruption trial continues in Banská Bystrica

The main hearing of the Očistec case resumed at the Specialized Criminal Court (ŠTS) in Banská Bystrica. The trial, which began on 11 May and was adjourned the same day, now focuses on eleven defendants accused of forming and operating a criminal group within the police and security services between 2012 and 2018.

Key figures include former head of the Financial Police Bernard Slobodník, who testified and said, "Budem sa snažiť hovoriť to, čo si pamätám," former police president Tibor Gašpar, businessman Norbert Bödör, former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik, and ex‑finance administration chief František Imrecze. Prosecutor Bohdan Čeľovský has requested that former president Andrej Kiska and opposition leader Igor Matovič appear as witnesses, along with other witnesses such as entrepreneur Juraj Široký and police president Jana Maškarová. The court imposed strict limits on live broadcasting to prevent witness influence. Two defendants, Imrecze and Boris Trantalic, did not attend but consented to proceedings in absentia. The indictment alleges bribery, abuse of power and the orchestration of a criminal network within law‑enforcement agencies.