The trial of Slovak central bank (NBS) governor and ex-finance minister Peter Kažimír, who stands accused of bribery, started at the Specialised Criminal Court on Monday morning. According to the prosecution, Kažimír as finance minister repeatedly asked the then head of Financial Administration Frantisek Imrecze to ensure, among other matters, the priority payment of VAT deduction claims for several companies in the amount of more than €3 million. To this end, he allegedly gave Imrecze a bribe of €48,000.
The NBS governor pleaded not guilty at the trial on Monday. "We consider the indictment to be unlawful, filed prematurely and inconsistent with the evidence that was collected in the preliminary proceedings," said Kazimir's lawyer Ondrej Mularcik. "It is basically just wishful thinking by someone who is seeking to remove Mr Kazimir from the post of NBS governor," the lawyer added.
The Specialised Criminal Court found Kažimír guilty of bribery in April, fining him €100,000. As both the prosecutor and the ex-minister appealed against the verdict, a main trial is now being held.
Source: TASR
