Analysis

President of Bratislava court resigns over communication with journalist murder suspect

The president of the a Bratislava court, David Lindtner, has resigned from his post over his alleged communication with Marian Kočner, the main suspect in the murder in 2018 of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, whose articles revolved around Mr Kočner’s business deals.

The two men are alleged to have exchanged more than 200 text messages and to have met at least once.

“I accepted [his resignation] because the things that happened were not in conformity with his role,” said Slovak Minister of Justice Gábor Gál. “He is a very good expert, but he failed to handle the situation.”

In January, Slovakia’s deputy prosecutor general René Vanek was forced to resign after it emerged that he had made online contact with a woman, Alena Zsuzsova, being held in custody on suspicion of being implicated in the journalist’s murder.

Both Zsuzsova and Kočner, as well as two others, remain in custody awaiting trial.