Former Secret Agent Testifies Against Kočner, Claims He Uses Hypnotic Gaze in Court

Peter Tóth, a former Slovak secret service agent turned key witness, took the stand in court to testify against his one-time close associate Marian Kočner, revealing when and why he stopped trusting the controversial businessman — while also complaining that Kočner was attempting to intimidate him by staring him down during proceedings. Tóth disclosed specific details he claims will help convict Kočner, describing a breakdown in their relationship that he says exposed the true nature of the man he once considered a friend. During testimony, Tóth told the court that Kočner was 'hypnotizing him with his gaze,' a complaint that highlighted the tense atmosphere inside the courtroom. Marian Kočner is one of Slovakia's most notorious figures, a businessman and media mogul who was acquitted in 2020 of ordering the 2018 murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová — a case that shocked the country and triggered mass protests leading to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico. Kočner faces separate criminal proceedings on other charges. Peter Tóth, who previously worked for the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), has publicly acknowledged a past close relationship with Kočner and is now cooperating with prosecutors, making his testimony a potentially significant element in the ongoing legal proceedings against the businessman.