In regards to the criminal acts committed by Leons Rusiņš, authorities have found signs of misconduct in the actions of the Chief of Eastern Zemgale Police Department and at least two police officers.
This was reported by the Chief of State Police Armands Ruks during a meeting of the Saeima’s Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption prevention Committee on Wednesday, the 3rd of May.
As the internal affairs inspection still continues, a separate disciplinary inspection has commenced to look into the actions of Chief of Eastern Zemgale Police Department Rolands Bērziņš. Last week Ruks said Bērziņš will likely lose his post because of the situation with the search for Leons Rusiņš prior to him murdering his ex-wife.
“Currently disciplinary cases will be commenced against at least two other officials. In it, their professional competence will be scrupulously evaluated, including in relation to the murder in Jekabpils.
If officials are unable to deal with difficult situations locally on their own, then we need to step in and resolve the problem on the highest level,” said Ruks.
On the 16th of April a 1983-born woman was killed right in front of her mother and child in Jekabpils. The murder was committed by her ex-husband Rusiņš. The man had terrorised and harassed her for months before the murder. Police were informed of the man’s behaviour multiple times, but no protection was provided in the end.
Rusiņš has 19 criminal processes on him, including 18 for not complying with restraining orders.
Delfi portal reports that the recent murder was not the first time Rusiņš had attacked a woman with a knife. The victim’s relatives say that there was another attack committed by him near Sēlija shopping mall on the 18th of February 2022. Rusiņš had attacked a woman with a knife, causing injuries to her face and arms. Rusiņš was sentenced to a EUR 500 fine for that.
Another one of his ex-wives was in a situation similar to his most recent victim. After the two divorced, he started terrorising her as well. This woman too said she never really received any aid from law enforcers – she wrote complaints and requests for protection to the police, the President of Latvia and the ombudsman, but it was all for nothing. She has changed addresses and lives in fear of potentially becoming his next victim.
Police have yet to find Rusiņš. At the same time, it is not impossible that he may have committed suicide.
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