MP arrested for allegedly abusing wife released on bail

Former Smer-SD MP Vladimír Jánoš, who faces charges of abusing close and entrusted people, was released from custody on Monday (March 9). Jánoš spent four days in custody before being released on bail, which was set by the judge at €20,000. Both the former MP and his lawyer Ľubomír Hrežďovič have refused to comment on the case. Ivan Katrinec, the lawyer representing Jánoš' wife Iveta, disagrees with the outcome. "By releasing Vladimir Jánoš from custody, the judge has de facto assumed responsibility over everything Vladimir Janos will do in the following weeks", he said. Jánoš resigned as an MP on Wednesday (March 4) over the scandal involving transcriptions of audio recordings published on the internet on Tuesday (March 3) in which he appears to verbally abuse his wife and use threats. At the same time he resigned as Smer-SD district chief in Prievidza. Jánoš announced that he has filed a criminal complaint regarding slander and the infringement of the sanctity of intimate verbal expression, claiming that half-truths and untrue claims have been published in the media about the case. On Wednesday (March 4) police seized firearms belonging to Jánoš and the couple are in the process of divorce.