PG: Suspension of Prosecutor Michal S. Lifted

Bratislava, January 22 (TASR) - Prosecutor Michal S. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who used to prosecute high-profile corruption cases and was later suspended due to criminal charges pressed against him, can return to his job, as Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka has lifted his suspension, according to information provided to TASR by Prosecutor-General's spokesperson Zuzana Drobova on Wednesday. The spokesperson added that Prosecutor-General Zilinka had no choice but to suspend Michal S. in order to protect the trustworthiness of the prosecution service once the charges were raised. Zilinka decided to end Michal S.'s suspension though, as in the six months since the pressing of charges, no decision has been taken regarding the prosecutor's complaint against the charges. "The suspension of a prosecutor, a significant disruption of the prosecutor's rights, cannot be regarded in isolation from the criminal prosecution, its duration and approach of law enforcement bodies in criminal prosecution against the prosecutor," explained Drobova. Drobova added that the decision of the Prosecutor-General concerns only Michal S.'s professional tenure and is in no way, shape or form prejudging the outcome of the ongoing criminal prosecution against him. Michal S. had charges pressed against him in summer 2024 by the Internal Affairs Inspectorate over a suspicion of misuse of a public official's powers in the prosecution of a corruption case. Three former National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigators are also facing charges. mf/mcs