SLOVAKIA
Automafia
0:02
Mr Zenuni from Vienna is the latest in a long line of victims of the ‘Auto-Mafia’ Just before Christmas, his Mercedes was stolen in Bratislava. Shortly afterwards, he was offered it back.
The Criminals have several of the cities highest ranking policemen
among their contacts.
Just a few hours after he reported the theft of his car, he got a call on his mobile phone…
0:22
OT Haxhi Zenuni / Mafia-Victim
During the night some-one called me. He told me that my car had been found, and did I want it back. ‚Of course’, I told him. He said Good, if you want it back then take 4000 marks and come to Bratislava and the Hotel Kiev, and then you’ll get your car back. Right in front of the police I had to pay 4000 marks. He took the money and the two, with the police, disappeared with the police car. Then I took my car, and drove back to Vienna.
1:16
Outside the Hotel Kiev, police are swarming. From nowhere else in the Slovenian capital are so many cars stolen as from here. According to official statistics, 5344 cars were stolen last year. At present, only 1300 of these have been recovered. The Auto Mafia’s car of choice – the expensive models driven by foreign tourists.
1:45-1:58 Insert: Gestellte Szene
As inconspicuously as possible we busy ourselves at this car, which a colleague turned up with shortly before. But the police aren’t interested in us. Their only concern is not to be filmed. We meet another man, who wishes to remain anonymous. He’s a private detective, working on behalf of an Austrian Insurance company.
2:13
OT ohne Insert
"Wissen Sie - in der Mafia gibt es ein sehr hohes Risiko, erstens und zweitens - man muss immer damit rechnen - Einschleichen kostet viel, weil entweder müssen sie dann mitmachen oder einfach davonlaufen. Davonlaufen kann man einfach nicht."
You know, firstly, there’s a huge amount of risk in the Mafia, and secondly - and you always have to count on this – getting in costs a lot, you either have to join in or run away. It’s not easy to run away.
Reporter Frage:
It’s been said that the police here are also involved with the Mafia. Do you believe that’s true?
OT ohne Insert
From various conversations I’ve had with magistrates and others, it’s become very apparent that it is true, unfortunately.
2:48
The Slovakian interior ministry. No-one here wants to know about any involvement in organised crime.
2:57
OT Peter Pleva / Innenministerium Slowakei
Car theft in Slovakia is the price we have to pay for motorisation. Most of the criminals come from the East, from Russia or from the Ukraine, to us. Of course, that’s not good, and perhaps there are a few black sheep in the local authorities. But we have no indications or proof that a significant number of policemen in Slovakia are involved in such matters.
3:32
The next morning, south east of Pressburg.
3:35
offen
3:41
At a used car yard, behind the mountains of scrap metal, sit shiny, expensive new cars. All stolen and regained cars, which are stored here temporarily. All in all about 300. The majority are German makes – most no older than a year.
We are asssured that all the cars passing through here are completely legal - the police have their eye on it.
4:09
OT Stefan Polák / Autohändler
This Audi A8 is one of the most valuable cars I have here. A third of all vehicles in fact belong to Austrians. If the legal owners come forward - they can have their car back for a small storage and service fee. We have nothing to do with the Mafia. It used to be that only luxury cars got stolen, now the thieves are clearly no longer so discriminating. Look, I’ve even got a Skoda.
4:43
What happens to the cars if the owners don’t come forward, however, is less clear. Some are auctioned, others just disappear. Even reclaimed cars are often stolen again.
5:03
At Interpol HQ in Vienna, there has been long-standing concern about taking cars over the border. Interpol is making inroads in the fight against corruption and the Mafia – All in all though, it just isn’t enough.
5:16
OT Erich Zwettler / Interpol Wien
Of course, we should be doing more in this area. Around 5000 cars a year are stolen in the Slovak republic. There needs to be better remuneration for the police there, and perhaps better training.
Reporter - Frage:
That is to say, low salaries lead to corruption?
OT Erich Zwettler / Interpol Wien
That would be fair to say, yes.
5:45
The fight against organised crime and corruption has been taken on by the Slovakian newspaper Novij Cas, the most widely read broadsheet in the country. Its journalists lament that car theft has become a part of everyday life, the population are no longer even shocked or upset by it.
6:04
OT Vlaimír Donner / Journalist
The Slovak people don’t even see car theft as a special problem. It’s almost socially acceptable. People have other probelms. If less than eight cars in a day are stolen in Bratislava, no-one takes any notice. It won’t even make the papers. People only sit up and take notice if there is violence. The insurance will always pay for the car.
6:37
This Slovak also harbours a fear of violence from the Eastern Mafia. His car was also stolen last year, from outside his house and under the watch of the police, and offered back to him a few day later. He refused to pay.
6:59
OT ohne Insert
Whoever gets involved with the Mafia has to expect the worst. I heard of a young man a while back who got shot. A policeman was also implicated in that. The authorities often have nothing on the criminals. It’s not only the police , but also tax and customs that are tied up in this dark practice.
7:27
The route into Europe is still long and rocky for the Slovenians. Only a rise in prosperity, and a purge of the judicial system can save the country from organised crime and corruption. Know-how from the West seems pressing. The Slovakian authorities aren’t only fighting the dirty dealings of the Eastern gangs, but also against underhand and shady mafiosi organisations within their own ranks – usually with little success.
A lasting improvement is still a distant horizon...
7:59
Bericht: Alexander Sattmann
Kamera: Josef Ettlinger
Schnitt: Tabojer
8:04
AKM:
Gotham GM-008
Docudrama
No Way Out
A. Williams