Former Agriculture Payment Agency (PPA) director Juraj Kožuch and the financier of Slavia Capital financial group, Martin Kvietik, will be prosecuted in custody, the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica has decided. Both of them were detained by the National Crime Agency (NAKA) last week as a part of a police action codenamed 'Stock Farmer', which involves an investigation into corruption linked to the PPA. The court spokesperson clarified that the reason behind their custody is that they might otherwise influence witnesses. The decision, however, is not final as both men have lodged a complaint against it. Now the Supreme Court must deal with the complaints. The proposal to remand them in custody was filed on Friday by a prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor's Office.
The Agriculture Payment Agency is in charge of the allocation of subsidies for farming land. Kožuch and Kvietik were charged with accepting bribes totalling almost €1 million in relation to these subsidies. "The total sum of bribes received by the accused Juraj K. and Martin K. amounts to €924,000," wrote the police. Slavia Capital financial group has been linked to scandals involving the now extra-parliamentary Slovak National Party, which however was part of the previous government, in the 2016-2020 term. Moreover, the Agriculture Payment Agency is a subordinate body of the Agriculture Ministry, which was led by the Slovak National Party during the previous term.
The President of the Trade Union Conference, Marian Magdoško, wrote in his blog that in his opinion, the head of the PPA was being covered by powerful people in government.
