Decrypted chats found in cell phone are not the sole evidence

Decrypted chats found in cell phone are not the sole evidence

During the investigation into the murders of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, the Special Prosecutor's Office has also been looking at the criminal activities of representatives of state and judicial authorities. This information stems from a press conference held by the Office's prosecutors in Pezinok on Monday. According to the special prosecutor, these people have good reason to cast doubt on members of the investigation team and the evidence in order to thwart an objective investigation into their activities.

At the same press event, the prosecutors of the Special Prosecutor's Office informed that they have evidence that the cell phone, which contains Marian Kočner,'s recently leaked chats, indeed belonged to the controversial entrepreneur. The authenticity of the chats sent through the encrypted messenger Threema has been repeatedly put in doubt by Kočner's lawyer Marek Para. Addressing Para's reproaches that he has not been provided with sufficient access to the chats, the prosecutor stated Para was actually provided access to the cell phone in the exact state in which it had been seized in May. The chats were decrypted in July, and according to the prosecutor, all charged persons in the case, and their lawyers have at least a part of the decrypted communications at their disposal.

When asked by TASR news agency whether the chats are the only evidence showing that Marian Kočner ordered the journalist's murder, a prosecutor replied that Kočner had been charged months before the chats were decrypted. Peter Tóth, who is a witness in the Kuciak murder case, and a former close associate of Marián Kočner, handed over the phone to the police.

Zuzana Botiková, Photo: Flickr/Md saad andalib

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