BRATISLAVA, August 17, (WEBNOVINY) – On Wednesday, opposition SMER-SD head Robert Fico met with journalists over the Osrblie corruption scandal. According to him, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova knew of the corruption, she is incompetent, a liar and suspected of corruption. “I do not believe that Radicova did not know of the corruption, that she did not know of the collection of one tenth [from the deal’s value as corruption],” said Fico. He also does not understand why Radicova signed an above-standard subsidy worth 300,000 euros when she knew that the sports complex should be constructed by an individual who was already sentenced for fraud in a tender in the past. “She probably did this because she knew a kickback was agreed upon,” added Fico, asking another question: why did Radicova only appear in front of the public several days after the first accusations in the case were made. Is it because to remove Mr. Novotny abroad?
Fico considers it telling that the police released one of the three accused in the case after he promised to behave. The former prime minister underscored that Judge Juraj Kliment, the coalition’s nominee for the head of the National Security Office was the one who decided on the appeal of the accused against detention. Fico also claims that immediately after his release, this accused called to another charged person. “Let them prepare their answers now,” he said. “Corruption was never so near to a Slovak prime minister as it is now to Iveta Radicova,” emphasized Fico.
Last week, Radicova and Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic reported that a corruption case was uncovered concerning the government grant to finish the Osrblie national biathlon complex. The 1.6 million euro grant consisted of 1 million euro earmarked by the Ministry of Education and 300,000 euro both from the Ministry of Finance and from the reserve of the prime minister. Media reported that ex-Ambassador to Kenya Igor Liska had contacted the construction company working on the completion of the Osrblie facility, which should host the 2012 European championship and offered it to arrange a government subsidy for completion of the biathlon facility in exchange for a kickback amounting to 10-percent of the sum of the subsidy. Liska was caught red-handed when taking the bribe at one of Novotny’s firms. Media also informed that external aide to the prime minister for economy Martin Novotny was involved in the case. Radicova instantly recalled him, citing loss of confidence as the reason behind the move.
SITA