Trstená mayor acquitted of blackmail charges

Námestovo District Court has exonerated the mayor of Trstená (Žilina region) Juraj Bernaťák of charges relating to blackmail and the abuse of a public official's powers back in 2011 as the director of the Cadastre Directorate in Tvrdošín, TASR learnt on Tuesday. Žilina Regional Court spokesman Jozef Michňa told TASR that the prosecution has been terminated with acquittal on the grounds that the deed in question is not defined as a crime. Michňa added that the verdict is not binding yet because the prosecutor has filed an appeal. "Although I'm a man, I was on the verge of tears because I thought of my mum. She was still alive back when I was accused and facing prosecution. Now, all I can do is go to the cemetery, pray at her grave and tell her that I'm accused no longer", said the mayor, who would have automatically lost his post if he had been found guilty. Bernaťák considers the case to be nothing but a witch hunt orchestrated against him by influential figures to whose interests he refused to cater when presiding over disputes. "I've always wanted to make decisions according to the law and not their wishes. I gave recommendations to an employee who repeatedly asked me how to decide on a case, but she later filed a criminal complaint against me, claiming that I blackmailed her. I've never feared the verdict because I believe in justice and my conscience is clear", he told TASR.