Major corruption trial postponed as Slovak court consolidates related cases

The long-awaited trial in the high-profile Očistec (Purgatory) corruption case began yesterday at the Specialized Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica, more than four years after charges were filed. However, the proceedings were immediately suspended after the first day, with all scheduled May hearings cancelled as the court moves to consolidate related cases. The trial has been postponed until June to allow for the merger of connected proceedings. The Očistec case is one of Slovakia's major corruption investigations handled by the Specialized Criminal Court, which deals with serious organized crime and high-level corruption cases.