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Stop Corruption Foundation Files Criminal Complaint for Suspected Money Laundering in Connection with the Villa of Kažimír’s Partner
Bratislava, 3 December 2024 – The Stop Corruption Foundation has filed a criminal complaint over suspicions of money laundering and bribery. The allegations concern former Finance Minister Peter Kažimír and his close associates. The Foundation is calling for a thorough investigation into complex transactions that may be linked to decisions on strategic state investments.
The criminal complaint pertains to suspicious financial operations that occurred during Peter Kažimír’s tenure at the Ministries of Finance and Economy. According to the Foundation, these transactions reveal a network of companies and individuals potentially involved in a corruption scheme related to the purchase of land for the Jaguar car factory and the acquisition of a luxury villa on the French Riviera.
“Millions of euros were repeatedly transferred to the account of a Cypriot company linked to an associate of Mr Kažimír from firms connected to businessmen who benefited from his decisions. Part of these funds may have subsequently been used to purchase a luxury villa in France owned by Mr Kažimír’s partner,” said Zuzana Petková, the Foundation’s Director.
The Foundation asserts that the chain of financial operations designed to conceal the origin of the funds is a textbook example of money laundering.
Two Cases, the Same Company
The first set of allegations concerns the acquisition of land for the Jaguar car plant. At the time, the state decided to purchase plots of land from businessman Ondrej Ščurko, with approximately one million euros transferred to the aforementioned Cypriot company’s account around the same time. The suspicions trace a web of financial transactions back to Ščurko.
The second case involves payments for the villa on the French Riviera. The funds for the purchase came from a company controlled by businessman Jozef Brhel, who has been indicted in a case involving IT system contracts for the financial administration during Kažimír’s tenure as minister.
The Foundation Demands Answers and Fair Investigation
The Foundation urges law enforcement authorities to thoroughly scrutinise all financial transactions and the connections of those implicated in the case. “A case intertwining billion-euro investment decisions, foreign accounts, and expensive properties deserves meticulous investigation,” emphasises Petková.
The criminal complaint filed by the Foundation provides a detailed account of the intricate money transfers through foreign companies and their potential links to Kažimír’s decisions.
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