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Government Dismisses Kristof Over Tax Evasion Scandal
Wednesday 27 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 27 (TASR) - Slovak Governemnt on Wednesday dismissed Economy Ministry's state secretary Pavol Kristof (LS-HZDS nominee), who had submitted his resignation through Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek earlier the same day.
Kristof, who has been state secretary only since June 1, 2009, decided to resign due to legal action against him based on allegations of evasion of taxes and insurance levies announced on Tuesday by Trencin regional prosecutors.
LS-HZDS announced earlier on Wednesday that Kristof gave up his post as state secretary, since he, as a party nominee, does not want the "fabricated scandal" to affect his party or the Government. "Mr. Kristof is convinced that he did not commit the crime he is accused of, and that he will defend his probity in the trial," said LS-HZDS spokesperson Sona Jantolakova.
The Trencin Regional Prosecutor's office launched legal action against five people due to tax and insurance levies evasion, TASR was told Tuesday by the Prosecutor's Office spokesman Marian Sipavy.
According to Sipavy, the accused individuals - one of them Kristof - did not pay taxes and obligatory insurance levies from 1996-2000 while representatives of several trading companies.
Spokeman of Trencin Regional Court Roman Tarabus confirmed a trial concerning this case is set for March 9, 2010. "We will be able to make further statements concerning the prosecution's case after it is presented at the trial," stated Tarabus.
Sipavy stated that the men, who remain at liberty, could face imprisonment of up to 12 years if found guilty.
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