Man accused of sending radioactive packages faces life imprisonment

An investigator of the National Criminal Agency (NAKA) pressed charges against a 53-year-old man from Poprad on December 16. The man, identified by police only as Stefan K., is charged with acts of terrorism and the illegal manufacture and possession of nuclear and radioactive materials. This was reported to TASR by Police Corps Presidium Spokesperson Denisa Baloghová on Wednesday. The man was sending envelopes containing radioactive materials to courts and the police, said the investigator. "Throughout November 2016, at least in five cases the accused sent envelopes to the Justice Ministry and the regional police headquarters in Prešov, Poprad District Court, Považská Bystrica District Court and Kežmarok District Court along with threatening letters addressed to judges, prosecutors and police officers, some of which were contaminated with a radioactive substance: Americium 241," said Baloghová. According to police, the accused illegally possessed and used this radioactive materials, normally found in household smoke detectors, with the intention of putting the lives and health of public officials in danger, inspiring terror among the public and severely destabilising Slovakia's constitutional order. "For such acts, [if found guilty] the defendant might face life imprisonment. He's currently being held in custody concerning various criminal activities," said the spokesperson.