Wednesday, September 2, 2015. BMG: As 2016 elections approach in the European nation, Slovakia, the campaign trail is heated with accusations that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is hiding more than $700 million worth of assets in Belize.
Fico dismissed the claims saying neither he or his wife own any companies registered in Belize and or hold a bank account in the country. Fico also intends to file a suit for slander against Igor Matovic, chair of the opposition party making the claims. Matovic alleged that in mid-August he received an anonymous letter detailing Fico’s activities in Belize.
The Slovakian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) defended Fico and his wife saying neither of them have any personal or business accounts, or other financial products in financial institutions in Belize, and that they are not signatories of any accounts whose owners are legal entities in Belize.
The Slovakian authorities added that they have collaborated with Belizean authorities to gather the information. Fico said the claims are damaging not only to him as a person, but also to Slovakia’s image abroad. Matovic, however, responded that Belize is notorious for covering up internationally wanted criminals who place their illegally acquired money in accounts in the country, and added that Fico’s paper from the Belizean authorities about his innocence is irrelevant.
“Belize is a country where it’s possible to buy anything for such money as Fico has at his disposal,” said Matovic. He said he also plans to present to the Slovak police with documents that allegedly outline the manipulation of a public tender with Fico’s involvement and a Belizean connection.