Ex-secret service agent questioned in journalist murder case

Former journalist and ex-Slovak counterintelligence service head Peter Toth spent almost the whole of Monday giving his statement as a witness in the case of the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancé Martina Kušnirová. He left the police station late in the evening, avoiding reporters. In the early stages of the investigation, Toth was questioned as a secret witness, but later opted to give a statement under his own name. Earlier this month he confirmed that he had mediated the surveillance of journalists in the past at the request of businessman Marian Kočner, but did not perform the task himself. According to him, Ján Kuciak was under surveillance for a few days in September and October 2017, a few months before he was murdered. He also admitted personally knowing Alena Sz, one of the arrested suspects in the murder, but denied knowing about its preparations. Ján Kuciak worked as an investigative journalist for the aktuality.sk news portal. He and his girlfriend were murdered on February 21, 2018. The person who ordered the murder paid at least €70,000 for it. Five individuals, including controversial businessman Marian Kočner, have been charged with the murders. All are in jail awaiting trial.