Latvia

Investigation on alleged corruption related to public procurement procedure in the State Enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport authority has not impeded the signing of the contract with „Latvijas tilti“ for 11,7 million euro

The former executive of the Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) Armands Ploriņš recently had been confirmed at his new position at Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital. Yet, he has been suspended from it. The board of the hospital had received documents from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) and the Ministry of Health that he can not perform his duties in full amount for a certain time.

Recently the Bureaucracy Combating Centre (BAC) of Riga City Council evaluated anti-corruption plan of year 2014 of SIA "Riga Traffic" and found that in certain situations the manager Leons Bemhens and other board memebers, possibly, have came to a situations related to a conflict of interest. To add, one situation is about the procedure of cell phones, their connection number, the procedure of internet allocation and use order of phones. Furthermore, the conflict of interest could be also in calculating methodology of consumption rate of a fuel and in accounting and in writing-off procedures.

Major corruption scandals have recently emerged at the State Revenue Service (VID) and the Police. The Prime Minister of Latvia Māris Kučinskis in the interview does not exclude that possible dishonest employees of VID and the Police are "covered form the top". He also asserts that this situation could be the outcome of the lack of control and, possibly, as we are a small nation, we know each other and want to mercy.

Riga Regional Court decided to uphold the decision of Riga District Court and detained the former chairman of "Latvia Railway" company Uģis Magonis who is suspected for taking a bribe. The defense requested to release Mr.Magonis from prison in exchange for a bail of 200 000 euros, but the person who directs the proceeding mentioned only bail of one million euros as an example.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has raided office of the chairman of Riga Central Market board Anatolijs Abramovs. The reason why raid was carried out was that there was a suspicion about illegaly sold trading venues at the Night Market. KNAB suspects market staff about re-selling already pre-sold trading venues of other trader when he has finished trading and went away.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) informs that they have initiated criminal proceedings against officials from Saldus District Orphan's Court for the unlawful use of allocated funding. Suspected persons have been adjusted with unrelated features of custodial security.