Opposition: Case of Kosice Police Officer Reveals Systemic Problem

Bratislava, November 14 (TASR) - Opposition lawmakers of PS and SaS are convinced that the case of Kosice-based police officer, charged with killing a suspect in custody, was not an individual failure but rather a systemic problem, it follows from statements made at a session of the House Committee for Defence and Security held on Thursday. PS caucus chair Martin Dubeci urged Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to start addressing the issue, adding that PS would like to hold a no-confidence motion in the Interior Minister. MP Juraj Krupa (SaS) also disagrees with the notion that the tragedy was an individual failure of the police officer, seeing as cases of police brutality have reoccurred recently. MP Maria Kolikova (SaS) doesn't understand the behavior of the second police officer who was present when the suspect was beaten up fatally and believes that this man should be suspended as well. In KDH's view, the police are understaffed and frustrated, in sore need of systemic changes. KDH lawmakers voiced their appreciation over the fact that the session was attended by the minister, head of the Internal Affairs Inspectorate and police chief Lubomir Solak, who tried to inform them about the case and the course of investigation in detail. mf