Marek Para, a close adviser to Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, was once at the centre of a corruption scandal that rocked the country’s political and judicial system. Accused of aiding an organised crime group in a plot to discredit a key anti-corruption prosecutor, he faced charges that symbolised the deep entanglement of politics, law enforcement, and criminal networks in Slovakia. But now, following a controversial shift in the investigation—marked by leadership changes, the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, and procedural missteps—the very authorities that once pursued him are moving to drop the case. The final decision lies with the Bratislava regional prosecutor, but with the country’s justice system under fire for political interference, many fear this is yet another sign that Slovakia’s fight against corruption is being dismantled from within.
Marek Para, a high-profile Slovak lawyer and current adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico, was charged in April 2022 with aiding an organised crime group linked to businessman Norbert Bödör. The group, implicated in the Očistec (Purgatory) scandal, allegedly sought to discredit special prosecutor Vasiľ Špirko, who investigated corruption cases involving government officials.
Five months later, in September 2022, prosecutors filed charges against Para, but the case faced setbacks. Both the Specialised Criminal Court and Slovakia’s Supreme Court dismissed the indictment due to serious procedural violations, particularly Para’s right to defence. The courts found that Špirko had not been properly questioned as the alleged victim.
A Shift in the Investigation
Following the legal setback, the investigation was reopened, and in the meantime, key officials overseeing the case were replaced. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok removed the original investigator, Milan Sabota, from duty, citing alleged political bias in previous cases. Additionally, Slovakia’s Special Prosecutor’s Office was abolished after a legislative reform, transferring its cases—including Para’s—to regional prosecutors.
The newly appointed investigative team reached a different conclusion. In January 2025, the Office for Combating Organised Crime recommended dropping the case against Para. The final decision now rests with the Bratislava regional prosecutor, who can accept the recommendation or order further investigation.
Marek Para’s Defence
Para maintains that his prosecution was politically motivated. He argues that key witnesses, including former law enforcement officials Bernard Slobodník and Ľudovít Makó, provided false testimony. He also claims the original investigator, Sabota, withheld evidence proving his innocence.
Para was initially accused of orchestrating efforts to frame prosecutor Špirko in collaboration with senior police figures. Testimonies suggest that Para met with former police officials, including Peter Hraško, to discuss undermining Špirko’s credibility. Evidence from Marian Kočner’s Threema messages—a private encrypted chat application—further indicated attempts to manipulate legal proceedings against Špirko. Kočner, a convicted fraudster with ties to Slovakia’s political elite, was recorded discussing how Para could help revive an abandoned case against the prosecutor.
Despite these allegations, the procedural errors cited by Slovakia’s Supreme Court cast doubt on the case’s legal foundation. Para has since been released from pre-trial detention and continues to serve as an adviser to Prime Minister Fico.
Wider Political Implications
This case is emblematic of Slovakia’s broader struggle with corruption and judicial independence. The Očistec case, which implicated police and business elites in organised crime, has become a political battleground. Prime Minister Fico’s government has been accused of weakening anti-corruption efforts, particularly through the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office.
The decision on Para’s charges will be a key test of Slovakia’s commitment to the rule of law. If the case is dropped, it will reinforce concerns that judicial reforms under Fico’s government are designed to shield political allies.
Source: Annamária Dömeová | Aktuality.sk
