The biggest corruption cases since 2006

First Fico’s government (Smer-SD, SNS and HZDS-ĽS): 2006-2010

Motorway construction, 2000-present

The trends that are characteristic of Slovak motorway construction have continued for the last 10 years – tunneling finances, non-completion of constructions in due time and quality .

Tunneling of Eurofunds, (2006 – present)

Uneconomical disposal, or even theft of Eurofunds, is a topic that appears in Slovakia almost immediately after the start of drawing on Eurofunds. The estimated damage is in billions of euros.

The case of Veľký Slavkov, 2007

The former Deputy Director of Slovak Land signed several agreements with restitutors from southern and eastern Slovakia, on the basis of which they became the owners of land in the High Tatras. The restitutors subsequently sold the lucrative plots in Veľký Slavkov – for a fraction of the market value – to entrepreneurs close to the then chairman of the HZDS, Vladimír Mečiar. At that time, the state lost land worth 1.5 billion crowns (approximately 50 million euros).

Tunneling of the Military Intelligence Service (2010)

A former member of the VSS (Military intelligence service) leadership described the alleged illegal transfers of former VSS assets to other organizations and individuals. These, in turn, were to be in touch with the management of the service. The state was to lose millions of euros in this way, mostly by secretly buying property, reconstructing it with state funds, then labeling it unnecessary or de-inspired, and selling it to people who made money at a significantly lower price. The investigator closed the investigation in February 2015, stating that the offense was not a criminal offense.

Case of the sale of emissions, 2008

The Ministry of the Environment and the American „garage” company Interblue Group have signed an agreement on the sale of carbon dioxide emission quotas for 4 years at a price of 5.05 euros per tonne. Under this agreement, Slovakia sold 15 million tonnes of emission limits to Interblue Group for approximately EUR 75 million. According to the chairman of SDKÚ-DS, Pavel Freš, „the garage company made money on this and the Slovak taxpayers lost 47 million euros”.

Social enterprises, 2008

The Ministry of Labor has allocated subsidies from the European Social Fund to eight social enterprises. The minister was accused of clientelism because there were suspicions that the companies were backed by representatives of the Smer – Social Democracy party.

Reconstruction of Bratislava Castle, 2008

The Váhostav company, owned by oligarch Juraj Široký in connection with SMER-SD, became the contractor of the reconstruction. Of the original SKK 1.2 billion (approx. EUR 39.8 million), the price after the reconstruction also included parking lots and hostels for deputies increased by SKK 2.6 billion (approx. EUR 86 million).

The Tipos case, 2008

The case has been going on since 2000, and in 2008 the Senate of the Supreme Court ruled that Tipos had illegally used Športka’s know-how. And that he has to pay almost two billion Slovak crowns (approximately 66 million euros) as compensation to the Cyprus mailbox company Lemikon Limited, which took over the dispute on behalf of Športka. In 2008, the Minister of Finance Ján Počiatek (SMER-SD) did not use the legal possibilities to challenge it, but quietly agreed with Lemikon to pay the money. After the first installment of about 16 million euros, Prime Minister Fico and Minister Počiatek finally questioned the court’s decision after media pressure and a decision. They didn’t pay them more. Interestingly, Lemikon is based in Cyprus at the same address as Thunderbite Holdings Limited, backed by the Slovak financial company J&T in connection with SMER-SD.

Star EU, 2008

In March 2008, the then Secretary General of SMER-SD, Ján Richter, was to recommend to mayors in eastern Slovakia to use the services of Star EU. It won 70 tenders in the total amount of 1.44 million euros. Several sources suggest that machinations may have occurred.

The case „ Popolček” (fly ash), 2009

The company Esco Krupina won the tender for the removal and disposal of fly ash and slag from three Slovak heating plants for 83 million euros. It was a case of the Minister for the SNS. He had to resign. His successor to SMER-SD confirmed that it was an unfavorable contract. Competitive companies offered the same 27 million euros cheaper.

Toll tender, 2010

The winner of the disputed tender was a consortium of the French company Sanef and the company Ibertax from Cyprus. They won € 852 million, with the cheapest bid being € 221 million lower. In 2008, they discovered that Ibertax was backed by two companies from Cyprus. And in one of them, according to official sources from Cyprus, there were employees of financial group J&T. The financial group stated that they were no longer involved in the company at the time of the tender. The European Commission also responded to irregularities in the tender (2008). At the end of the year, the Commission drew the government’s second letter to the government’s „discriminatory treatment” of unsuccessful candidates. In January 2009, the national highway company signed an electronic toll delivery contract with SkyToll. This was created by SanToll and Ibertax.

A voice similar to Fico, 2010

Before the 2010 elections, a recording of 2002 appeared „with a voice similar to Fico”, who spoke of the secret sponsors of SMER-SD, who provided the party with 75 million crowns (approximately 2.48 million euros). Literally the person recorded there says: „I have secured and I can say that here, I hope no one is listening, I have secured 35 for this year, about 40 for next year, plus other things. I secured them with my own head”. Fico denied that it was his voice. The case was also examined by investigators, but the prosecutor’s office came to the conclusion that „the act did not happen”.

Radičová government (SDKÚ-DS, SaS, Most-Híd, KDH): 2010-2012

Box financing of SDKÚ-DS, 2010

Already in 2004 there were reports that the debt of the then government party, SDKÚ-DS, in the amount of 22 million crowns (approx. 730 thousand euros), was taken over by a private company, which did not report any activity. Nevertheless, it received a loan abroad, for which it took over the SDKÚ-DS debt and, in addition, bought the SDKÚ-DS building for 25 million crowns (approximately 829 thousand euros). In 2010, Robert Fico submitted proof of a loan for the company for EUR 800,000. It was supposed to be Credit Swisse.
The case led to a woman who owned several mailbox companies.

Platinum strainers, 2011

Robert Fico joined the case with former Minister Ľudovít Černák (SDKÚ-DS). A distant relative bought platinum strainers from the State Material Reserves Administration through his company Heneken for 670 thousand euros. Experts have estimated their market value at 2.5 million euros. The price at which Heneken resolded the strainer remained unknown. The tender itself is still accompanied by several doubts. The advertisement for the sale of platinum screens was published only on the SŠHR (management of state material reserves) website, while the auction was limited to only 20 minutes.

Tax Directorate Košice, 2011

The Tax Directorate of the Slovak Republic decided to conclude a contract for the lease of a building for tax authorities in the city of Košice with the company Nitra Invest, s.r.o., which is owned by the chairman of the district organization SDKÚ-DS. The opposition called it party clientelism, and the head of Smer-SD, Robert Fico, demanded Radičová’s resignation.
Prime Minister Iveta Radičová (SDKÚ-DS) called on the then General Director of the Tax Directorate of the Slovak Republic to accept political responsibility. This was rejected by the Minister of Finance Ivan Mikloš, who nominated him for the position. The head of the tax directorate finally resigned after the prime minister told her party boss Mikuláš Dzurinda that she was considering remaining in the post of prime minister.

The Gorilla case, December 2011

The largest case in the history of independent Slovakia. A transcript of alleged wiretaps in a conspiracy apartment convinces Slovak political leaders that they have worked for the benefit of influential financial groups. Experts agree that the authenticity of documents can only be done by a miracle. The recent resignation of the head of special investigators and his statements suggest that the team did not have sufficient conditions and support to properly investigate the case.

Election of the Attorney General, 2011-2013

Shortly after the accession of the Radič government, the four center-right parties of the SDKÚ-DS, SaS, Most-Híd and KDH began looking for a common candidate for a new Attorney General. From October to November 2010 it failed, he was not elected from the trio: Eva Mišíková (support of SaS, KDH and Most-Híd), Ján Hrivnák (support of SDKÚ-DS) and Dobroslav Trnka (support of Smer-SD).
Although prosecutor Jozef Čentéš became the joint candidate of the coalition, the parliament almost elected Trnka – Radičová then threatened that if she remained the head of the GP, she would resign as prime minister. Čentéš lacked unequivocal support for the coalition, the government quartet took photos and allegedly also marked the so-called ballot papers. Controller code. She considered a public election, but in the end she elected Čentéš by secret ballot on June 17, 2011. The then president Ivan Gašparovič was running out of time and did not appoint Čentéš as Attorney General for several reservations.
Čentéš turned to the Constitutional Court and a war of objections began for the members of the court, who were to decide on his complaint against non-appointment. After the inauguration of Fico’s government, a new GP was elected in parliament on 18 June 2013 by Jaromír Čižnár. The Constitutional Court finally acknowledged the violation of Čentéś’s rights, but this no longer opened the door to the chair of the head of the prosecutor’s office – they awarded him financial compensation.

Collapse of the tax system, 2012

The former head of the financial administration signed an addendum to the contract with IBM on the introduction of a new system for collecting taxes. The introduction of the new system practically paralyzed the tax system in Slovakia. The financial report thus had to return to the original system. The damage was estimated at 8.8 million euros.

Fico’s Second Government (Smer-SD): 2012 -2016

Budamar, 2013

According to investigators, three men founded an organized group in 2012, which formally traded in food products through a network of more than forty companies from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. They caused almost 21 million euros in damage to taxes and VAT. Behind Budamar are people close to SMER-SD.

Case of CT / Medical Group, 2014

The hospital in Piešťany competed for a CT device for 1.6 million euros, while the same type was bought by a Czech hospital for 540,000 euros. The case led to the company Medical Group SK, where in the past the co-owner was the deputy chairman of the parliament Pavol Paška (SMER-SD). He claimed that he ended up in the company 13 years ago. In addition to him, the name of the mayor of Košice, Zdenek Trebuľa, also appeared there. Both are members of Smer-SD. Later, it turned out that Medical was winning various lucrative government contracts. Shortly after the case, the Minister of Health abdicated, and later the Speaker of Parliament announced her resignation.

Subsidies for Duslo Šaľa Babiš, 2014-2015

Andrej Babiš received a huge subsidy. The government of Robert Fico knocked out almost 60 million euros for Duslo Šaľa. It was still under the Minister of Economy Tomáš Malatinský. Prime Minister Robert Fico first claimed that he knew nothing about the support of the subsidy for Babiš’s company. The case exceeded the borders of Slovakia. Slovak MEPs Richard Sulík and Ivan Štefanec claimed to the European Commissioner for Competition that Malatinský’s successor, at the time of the subsidy, the state secretary, Pavlis, was doing business with Babiš’s companies. Brussels finally approved a grant for Duslo on 6 January.

Restructuring of Váhostav, 2014 / 2015

The company Váhostav announced in September 2014 that it would undergo restructuring. The court ruled that hundreds of Slovak companies and sole traders who worked for highway construction for Váhostav would lose 85% of the money that Váhostav-SK was supposed to pay them for their work. Robert Fico distanced himself from the case from the beginning and tried to convince the public that it was a case of the former government. The owner of Váhostav, Juraj Široký, has long been considered an influential man behind SMER-SD.

Aunt Anka, 2015

The head of the state health insurance company had to explain why the insurance company has contracts with the company of his 77-year-old aunt in the total amount of 14 million euros. At the same time, the contracts were created during his tenure at the head of the insurance company. The case cost him his place. That ended the case.

Overpriced IT services for the state / Slovensko.sk, 2015

Wasting state money or Eurod subsidies in the IT business is often a topic of discussion. Slovakia has spent 900 million euros on computerization since 2007, but the current situation does not correspond to the situation that should be after the rational investment of the mentioned money. At the same time, companies appear in this business, in the background of which there are to be links to political parties.

Money in foil, 2015

The wife of the direction exposist Vladimír Jánoš told in a video how he carried large sums of money home. He was later to wrap them in foil „to protect them in the event of a house fire”. Jánošová’s ex-wife claims in the video, among other things: „I think that he cooperated with Mr. Čičmanec (director and main co-owner of the Hornonitrianske mines Prievidza) and with Prime Minister Fico. He told me that. They met in the mines and always agreed something and then he came up with such a bundle of money. He did it regularly”.

The case of Kaliňák, Počiatek and VAT, 2016

The case of tax fraud for 75 million euros, which allegedly also covered the political leaders of the Direction – Ministers Kaliňák and Počiatek responded with a criminal complaint, they also announced a lawsuit for the protection of personality.

Masseur for 3 million euros, 2016

The state health insurance company had a contract with a masseur, the volume of which reached 3.2 million euros. Healthcare experts say this is a typical example of political clientelism and favoritism.

Third Fico / Pellegrini government (Smer-SD, Most-Híd, SNS): 2016-2020)

The Bašternák case, 2016

Entrepreneur Ladislav Bašternák has proven connections to political elites. Robert Fico lives in his apartment in the Bonaparte complex, Ján Počiatek has an apartment there, he did business with Robert Kaliňák. Bašternák is suspected of excessive VAT deductions.

Connection of Kočner to judges and the prosecutor’s office

The investigation into the murders of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová revealed the connection of the mobster Marian Kočner to the judges and prosecutors who worked for him. They helped him win lawsuits, covered him up. This is the biggest scandal related to corruption in the judiciary in Slovakia.

Tunneling of agro-subsidies: Countess and Italians

After the publication of Ján Kuciak’s last article on the Italian mafia in eastern Slovakia, the topic of tunneling and the misuse of Eurofunds and subsidies to agriculture in Slovakia was opened. The cases of former member of the Smer Ľubica Rošková, who is accused „of the crime of damaging the financial interests of the European Union and the cause of subsidy fraud, are well known”.

Real Estate Chief of Military Secret

Jan Balciar, head of military counterintelligence, can not credibly explain to the public for what and how he acquired lucrative real estate, including apartments in Taly and Croatia. Currently, among other things, it represents a former state property – cottage Barbora in the Low Tatras. The building is not fenced, does not copy the foundations of the original building and the concrete is poured on the hiking trails. The findings of Aktuality.sk show that the native from Rimavská Sobota got to the millions of estates also thanks to donations within the family. The value of his property is estimated at about 3 million euros.

Kidnapping of a Vietnamese

According to German investigators, the abduction of the Vietnamese was supposed to assist in the kidnapping of the Vietnamese official Trinh Xuan Thanh, who was sentenced to life in Vietnam. He was abducted from Germany via Bratislava and Moscow to Vietnam. According to the German side, Slovakia was also to play a role in the kidnapping, which lent a government special to the Vietnamese delegation. According to the German media, the abducted Vietnam was to be on board. Former Minister of the Interior Robert Kaliňák, during whose work the event took place, denies this.

TIPOS

Former Tipos Head of State Ján Barczi and Tipos Former Head of IT Miloš Prelec are accused of violating the duty to manage other people’s property and of laundering proceeds of crime. Under their leadership, they had to ignore the violation of rules in online games. According to the police, the speculators managed to transfer 27 million euros from player accounts to current accounts in banks.

Tunneling of the Mochovce power plant

In February 2007, Robert Fico announced the construction of Units 3 and 4 of the Mochovce nuclear power plant. He announced at the time that construction could be completed within five years, sometime in 2012, and would require about two billion euros. The year is currently 2020, the construction has already required 5.7 billion euros and not a single block has been launched yet. The police repeatedly intervened on the construction site. According to the information available, some of the work was dismissed by the supply companies, while other companies were not paid all the money for the honest work. According to the investigation so far, the Italian company Solesi has apparently explicitly tunneled the project.

Construction of D4 / R7

In the period of the one-color government of Smer-SD (2012-2016), Ján Počiatek prepared an extensive project for the construction of the Bratislava D4 bypass and the expressway to Žitný ostrov R7. Roads are being built through a so-called PPP project – the money will be raised by a private builder and the state will repay his work for decades. While the amount for which the consortium, led by the Spanish company Cintra, stands up to the experts, seems to be in order, over time, it „burst” that speculators have earned millions of euros to buy land under highway quadrupeds.
Later, suspicions arose that the investor had introduced contaminated material into the D4 body. However, the absolute failure of the state seems to be, in particular, that it was not able to ensure the connection of the D4 with the transport artery of the whole country – the D1 motorway – for a while.