Former Police Chief and Intelligence Official Plead Not Guilty in Major Corruption Trial

Former police chief Tibor Gašpar and ex-intelligence official Norbert Bödör appeared in court for their corruption trial, with Bödör declaring only "not guilty" while Gašpar remained largely silent. Defense attorney Marek Para, representing both men, argued the charges are too vague and announced his clients would not testify at this stage. Para dismissed the prosecution as politically motivated, echoing claims made by the defense team of former Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik. The case involves the Očistec (Purgatory) investigation, a major anti-corruption operation targeting high-level officials in Slovakia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The trial represents a significant test of Slovakia's efforts to prosecute corruption within its security apparatus, with the defendants' legal teams challenging both the substance of the charges and the political motivations behind the prosecution.