Judicial Council: Judges Don't Make Decisions out of Fear, as Kiska Implies

Bratislava, November 1 (TASR) - Decisions made by judges in Slovakia are not guided by fear, as former Slovak president Andrej Kiska (2014-19) implied on Thursday (October 31), chair of Judicial Council Marcela Kosova declared on Friday. TASR learnt the news from Judicial Council's spokesperson Veronika Vasilkova. Kosova added that judges are not infallible, which is why the system of proper and special appeals and motions exists. "When making decisions, judges abide by the Constitution, international agreements and the law. They're making decisions to the best of their beliefs, independently and unbiased - the way they promise in their oaths taken before the President who appoints them to their posts. Andrej Kiska should know that, as he administered the oath of office to judges too," said Kosova. On Thursday, Kiska was found guilty of tax fraud by Presov Region Court and given a suspended sentence of one year with two years of probation. The verdict is final. In response, Kiska stated that the incumbent government is threatening inconvenient judges with disciplinary motions and so the judges have been seized by fear. 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. Kiska announced he will file a special motion with the Supreme Court. mf/mcs