Kiska: My Trial Politically Motivated, Fico Behind This

Presov, October 31 (TASR) - Former president Andrej Kiska (2014-19), who was found guilty of tax fraud by the Presov Region Court on Thursday, will file a special motion with the Supreme Court, as he believes his prosecution has been politically motivated and orchestrated by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "Fico threatens inconvenient judges with disciplinary proceedings, and judges have been seized by fear. I can't explain in any other way today's decision by the regional court, which didn't recognise clear evidence of my innocence in this dirty political trial," the ex-president posted on a social network. The regional court handed down a suspended sentence of one year with a two years of probation to Kiska. The verdict is final. "I won't falter in the fight to clear my name until the truth is uncovered. We're filing a motion with the Supreme Court," posted Kiska. The case revolves around Kiska's 2013-14 presidential campaign costs, which Kiska put on the books of his company KTAG. The firm subsequently filed an illicit claim for a VAT refund, thus causing the state financial damages of €155,184. mf/df