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Zitnanska: There's Perceived Corruption That Can Be Hardly Proven
Thursday 09 December 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 9 (TASR) - Dilatoriness in court processes isn't the only problem with the Slovak judiciary, it is also "perceived corruption that can hardly be proven", according to Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska, speaking on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day on Thursday.
"There are specific cases hinting at this, such as the case of judge [Marta] Laukova and messages inserted into the file recommending how to decide..."
[Bratislava district court judge Marta Laukova purportedly received a piece of paper last year, whereby she was asked to release a person charged with involvement in organising illegal immigration to Slovakia. After Laukova declined to follow the request, her superior Gabriela Bulubasova transferred her from the criminal to a civil division of the court. Laukova died in September this year. - ed. note]
Zitnanska stressed that corruption is not only a democratic but also an economic problem. Therefore the Government has decided to release contracts signed by the state and self-governing bodies in the internet. Likewise, court decisions should be also made available to the public. Parliament has made the first step towards this goal by adopting an amendment to the Act on Judicial Council and several other legislative measures. This will provide scope for the public to see the course of things at the Judicial Council and the career growth of judges.
"We have to pay a big debt to the public," said Zitnanska of the state of disarray in the judiciary.
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