Former Police Investigator Faces Trial Alone After Co-accused Benefit from Legal Amnesty

Former police investigator Roman Stahl will face trial alone on corruption charges despite being originally accused alongside former police chief Tibor Gašpar and businessman Norbert Bödör. Stahl failed to benefit from Article 363, a controversial amnesty provision that has shielded other defendants in major corruption cases. However, recent amendments to Slovakia's criminal code, which Gašpar himself helped push through parliament during his time as an MP, appear to have been designed to benefit cases like Stahl's. The charges are connected to the Očistec (Purgatory) case, a major anti-corruption operation that has targeted high-level officials and business figures. Gašpar previously served as police chief and later became a member of parliament for Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party, before the corruption allegations emerged. The case highlights ongoing challenges in Slovakia's fight against corruption, particularly regarding how legal reforms and amnesty provisions have affected prosecutions of politically connected figures.