Slovakia to Tighten Rules for Cooperating Witnesses in Criminal Cases

Slovakia's Ministry of Justice is preparing to overhaul the legal framework governing cooperating witnesses, commonly known as "kajúcnici" or penitents, who provide testimony in exchange for reduced sentences. Justice Minister Viliam Susko announced that the proposed reforms will impose stricter requirements for verifying witness testimonies while reducing opportunities for abuse of the system. The changes represent a significant shift in Slovakia's approach to handling criminal informants, who have played controversial roles in major corruption and organized crime prosecutions. The current system has faced criticism for potentially allowing witnesses to fabricate or exaggerate claims in exchange for lenient treatment, leading to calls for reform to ensure the reliability of such testimony in criminal proceedings.