Slovak Oligarch Kocner Acquitted for Second Time in Kuciak Murder

Marian Kocner arrives accompanied by an escort for the sentencing in the case of the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kuñírová at the Specialized Criminal Court (TS) in Pezinok on Friday May 19, 2023. PHOTO TASR - Jaroslav Novák

Announced on Friday in the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok, the verdict sent shock waves through Slovakia, just as the 2018 shooting did. But while the horrific crime brought down populist strongman Robert Fico, who had turned the country into a "mafia state," and saw a clean-up launched, the acquittal will provoke deep concern over the country's democratic system and rule of law.

The evidence that Kocner had ordered the 2018 shooting of Kuciak over his work uncovering corrupt schemes had appeared solid. Following a surprise acquittal in June 2021 on procedural grounds, a retrial was ordered by the Supreme Court.

However, it had not been proven that Kocner committed the crime, ruled the court, which was established in the aftermath of the murder to hear politically- and mob-linked cases. The oligarch was also cleared of ordering the murder of three prosecutors in 2017-18. However, he wasn't set free, as he is already serving a 19-year sentence for a 69-million-euro fraud. He told the court as the trial ended last week that: "I am not a saint, but I am not a murderer."

However, his assistant Alena Zsuzsová was found guilty of organising Kuciak's murder, as well as planning hits on two prosecutors. Already serving a 21-year sentence for organising the 2010 murder of a regional official for a political rival, she received another 25-year sentence.

All parties have the opportunity to appeal the verdicts.

While the immediate impact of the ruthless murder was to revive Slovak...

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