Sutaj Estok: Inspectorate Probing Case of Manslaughter Involving Police Officer

Bratislava, November 13 (TASR) - The Interior Ministry's Inspectorate (UIS) is investigating a case in which a Kosice police officer has been accused of manslaughter, TASR learnt on Wednesday. The Interior Ministry will analyse where the problem occurred. "If an individual or a supervisor fails, you can count on those responsible being held accountable," declared Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) before Wednesday's cabinet meeting, adding that he will be uncompromising. He claimed that UIS has acted swiftly in the case, adding that all supervisory mechanisms worked as they were supposed to. According to Sutaj Estok, the psychological tests for admission to the Police Corps are thorough and stringent, serving as a sufficient criterion for determining whether a person is qualified to join the force. However, the minister added that unplanned and irregular testing for officers during their service might be considered. In this regard, the minister stated that a body-camera project for police officers has been speeded up, and a pilot programme could potentially be launched on December 1. It will probably be deployed in the eastern part of Slovakia. An investigator of the Interior Ministry's Inspectorate (UIS) on Tuesday pressed charges of manslaughter against a Kosice police officer. According to the Inspectorate, the officer in question, while on duty in early November, inflicted multiple injuries to the head and body of an individual detained while perpetrating a crime, with the detainee succumbing to the injuries in hospital the following day. If found guilty, the officer might be sentenced to 12-15 years in prison. The House defence and security committee is expected to discuss the incident on Thursday (November 14). tl/df/zel