By: G. B.
Pop TV reported that the KPK, which is headed by NGO activist Katarina Bervar Sternad, has, in the procedure of determining a conflict of interest involving outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob in the Karigador case, adopted a second draft of findings, supplemented with additional evidence.
Unofficially, the findings are said to be even more damaging for Robert Golob than during the KPK’s previous public communication on the matter. In this case, the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) examined whether Golob, as Prime Minister, found himself in circumstances constituting a conflict of interest when he failed to recuse himself from voting at two government sessions on the appointment of businessman Tomaž Subotič to the council of the Celje hospital and the Ljubljana psychiatric clinic. In other words, they were determining whether Golob’s private interest influenced, or gave the appearance of influencing, his impartial performance of public office.
According to POP TV, the second draft adopted on 7 May is also, unofficially, incriminating for Golob. The KPK reportedly added additional evidence to his detriment. According to POP TV, the new evidence shows how close the relationship between Golob and Subotič is, and why Golob should have recused himself from the decision on this appointment.
Golob’s lawyer, Stojan Zdolšek, confirmed to POP TV that they had received the draft and would respond to it. He himself does not see any new relevant evidence in it. The KPK could then proceed to adopt a final decision.
This concerns the so‑called Karigador affair, revealed in April last year in the 24ur Fokus segment. Golob and his then‑partner Tina Gaber spent several holidays in the summer of 2023 at Subotič’s house. After the revelations, Subotič resigned as chairman of the council of the Celje hospital, and the government had already dismissed him from the position of chairman of the council of the Ljubljana psychiatric clinic.
Golob has shown several times that, despite being financially well‑off, he can be rather stingy when it comes to “freebies”. The latest move by the KPK is likely an indicator that his patrons have finally abandoned him and that he may be “parked” somewhere else, probably abroad, from the National Assembly, where he already feels quite uncomfortable.
Unofficially, it can also be heard that the KPK is rushing through cases involving Golob, as it will have “a lot of work” with the new government.