Justice Minister says other judges should also step back

Justice Minister Gabor Gal (Most-Hid) said on Thursday that the resignation of Bratislava I District Court judge Miriam Repakova needed to be accepted, but other judges with contacts to the now charged businessman Marian Kocner should also withdraw, at least temporarily, even if they feel they are innocent. Repakova announced her resignation to President Zuzana Caputova on Wednesday. Judicial Council chair Lenka Prazenkova on the same day initiated disciplinary proceedings against Repakova. Marian Kocner, now in custody, is charged with ordering the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak last year and multi-million euro fraud. Meanwhile, four judges whose names were invoked in Threema chats of Marian K were summoned to a special session of the Judicial Council to provide explanations. The Council already has access to the National Criminal Agency's investigation file. The judges in question were Kosice II District Court chair Adrian Pazur, Bratislava V District Court judge Zuzana Maruniakova, Bratislava I District Court judge Denisa Cvikova and Supreme Court judge Nora Halmova. Supreme Court vice-chair Jarmila Urbancova and Bratislava Regional Court chair Lubos Sadovsky were excused and might attend another session slated for November 21. The chat transcripts suggested Marian Kocner managed to corrupt several judges in an effort to pursue favourable verdicts.