Prosecutor Loses Case Files in Major Police Corruption Trial as Parliamentary Official Escapes Court

Prosecutor Michal Šúrek lost the case files for the high-profile Očistec corruption case in summer 2024 when he was charged by the police inspection unit, preventing him from attending the trial scheduled to begin Monday at the Specialized Criminal Court. The case has been delayed for over four years since the indictment was filed, during which time the main defendant, former police chief Tibor Gašpar, has been elected as deputy speaker of parliament representing Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party. Šúrek maintains he stands behind his prosecution of the case and expressed regret that he cannot defend his work in court. The Očistec case represents one of Slovakia's major police corruption investigations, and Gašpar's rise to high political office while facing criminal charges highlights the intersection of law enforcement scandals and political power in the country.