A specialized court in Banská Bystrica has acquitted prosecutor Bystrík Palovič of charges of accepting a bribe and abuse of power related to a case involving businessman Erik Mikurčík, who claimed that Palovič demanded a bribe of 100,000 euros to facilitate the dismissal of charges against him. Mikurčík was under investigation for allegedly taking control of a hotel in the center of Bratislava without the knowledge of his business partners.

Mikurčík alleged that he recorded a conversation with Palovič in which the prosecutor specified the amount requested, but the recording did not capture explicit details about the bribe. The judge determined that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient for a conviction, leading to Palovič's acquittal. In the ruling, the spokesperson from the specialized court stated that it was not proven that the crime alleged against Palovič occurred.

Although Palovič has been acquitted, the decision is not yet final, as the prosecutor general's office has filed an appeal against the ruling. The outcome of this case raises questions about accountability and corruption within public offices in Slovakia, and it highlights the complexities involved in prosecuting high-profile figures.