Slovakia’s Supreme Court (Najvyšší súd SR) has set a Nov. 3 hearing on the prosecutor’s appeal in the case of David L., a lawyer and adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico. The hearing date appears in the court calendar; the prosecutor is challenging an acquittal issued in April.
David L. is charged with alleged interference with judicial independence and indirect corruption. Prosecutors say the alleged conduct occurred while he headed Bratislava III District Court (Okresný súd Bratislava III). The charges have not been proven in court.
In early April, the Specialized Criminal Court (Špecializovaný trestný súd) in Banská Bystrica acquitted him, saying it had not been clearly established that the alleged acts took place as set out in the indictment. The prosecutor appealed, and the Supreme Court is due to consider that challenge.
The prosecutor filed the indictment in July 2022. A judge at the Specialized Criminal Court initially rejected it, prompting a complaint. The Supreme Court overturned that rejection and ordered the lower court to hear the case again; after the renewed proceedings, David L. was acquitted in April.
In closing arguments, the prosecutor sought a combined two-year prison sentence, suspended for a two-year probation period. He called former judges key witnesses and argued that their knowledge of criminal law meant they understood the consequences of false testimony.
David L. denies wrongdoing, says the alleged acts did not happen and could not objectively have happened, and sought acquittal. He argued that the case relies on only two separate statements by cooperating accused persons who, he said, received benefits for cooperating.
The Nov. 3 hearing will consider the prosecutor’s appeal against the April acquittal. The outcome remains open; the case is before the Supreme Court and David L. continues to deny the allegations.