Corruption Office for the Prevention and Control ofKNAB) terminated the criminal proceedings in the so-called builders’ cartel case on 10 May this year, where eight persons were entitled to a defense. Along with the public announcement, the office published an anonymous decision terminating the criminal proceedings. The portal “Delfi” investigates why this criminal process, which was introduced by public detentions and loud raids, was terminated. The full decision is available here.
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Although the decision to close the proceedings is anonymous, it may be inferred that the Office suspected that the trader Maris Martinsons, acting to some extent as a mediator, has helped a number of construction contractors to bribe the mayors of several Latvian cities – Jūrmala and Valmiera – as well as several members of the Saeima, as well as the then Minister of Defense Raimonds Vējonis (ZZS). The KNAB also suspected that bribes had been given to the spouses of deputies.
It is clear from the published document that the bureau had suspicions that one bribe was intended for the deputy Jānis Urbanovičs (S) in order to ensure “Harmony“Abstentions or non – voting in a particular vote. In total, in the opinion of the KNAB, the amount of bribes to all involved has well exceeded one million euros.
How did the process begin
From the decision to terminate the criminal proceedings, it is clear that the KNAB had a large amount of conversations, some of which took place in the infamous “Butterfly” bath, while others took place in a former fishermen’s collective farm in Jūrmala.
In these talks, the participants discussed in free language the throwing of several “stacks” to different officials in order to facilitate the faster progress of certain processes.
Below is an insight into the excerpts from the negotiations published in the KNAB decision.
As investigated
The decision states that all parties involved in the KNAB interrogation have been summoned, who have unanimously denied any kind of bribery activities. Thus, for example, Martinson testified that he did not know some of the people about whom the bribery case was initiated, but in other cases the businessman was also categorical that he was not involved in illegal activities. The businessman has emphasized that he does not personally know the mayor of Jūrmala Gati Truksne (ZZS), whose bribery he is suspected of. The businessman has testified similarly Guntis Rāvis, who admitted that he knows Truksni, but only greets him and there have been no business talks between the two.
Rāvis KNAB emphasized that he did not remember the fixed conversations of the office, but admitted that he was united by a close friendship with Martinson. Namely, the contractor pointed out that in the “Butterfly” sauna, both have discussed everyday issues, but have never talked about bribery.
Urbanovich, a Member of the Saeima, was also questioned as a witness in the case, who emphasized that he knew Martinson from his joint work. Latvian Basketball Union (LBS), but there have been no business talks between the two. He emphasized that he had never requested or received any illegal payments.
Vējonis also gave similar answers to the office, who confirmed that he knew Rāvis, but denied that he had discussed with Rāvis any donations to the party he represented. He also denied that Rāvis was interested in anything specific Ministry of Defense procurement.
Noise, exercising his statutory rights, chose not to testify.
It is clear from the published materials of the criminal proceedings that all witnesses and persons against whom criminal proceedings have been instituted denied any connection with illegal activities.
Why the process ended
In order to verify that the evidence provided was true, the KNAB requested and received information from various credit institutions, but did not receive any evidence that any kind of bribery had been given or taken.
Analyzing the evidence, the KNAB concluded that no conversation had been obtained in which the alleged bribery had been discussed in the presence of a person involved in the alleged crime.
Although donations have aroused the KNAB’s interest in some situations, the office has not been able to obtain evidence that they are related to the guarantee of any specific benefits.
It has already been reported that in this process the former SIA had the right to defense “Skonto Būve“Chairman of the Board Guntis Rāvis, former co-owner of” Skonto būve “Ivars Millers, Chairman of the Board of” LNK Group “Artjomas Milovs, construction company” Arčers “and road construction companies”Binders“co – owner Armands Garkans, businessman Māris Martinsons and Valmiera mayor Jānis Baiks (” Valmiera and Vidzeme “).
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