Latvian military police investigates fraud with food supplies for Ādaži military base, TV3 programme Nekā personīga reports.
The programme reports the Military Police have commenced criminal proceedings over fraud committed on a large scale by an organised group. Three persons are held suspect. A representative of Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) is suspected of abuse of power for personal gain.
According to information available to Nekā personīga, Latvia’s army may have suffered losses worth EUR 100 000.
Nekā personīga explains that a representative of the Third Regional Provisioning Center of the NBS Command had personally ordered and approved food products from Lanekss LLC. Untrue information was stated in consignment notes – specifically about the amount supplied, as it was smaller than what was stated in documents. This representative’s contract with NBS was terminated last year.
The prosecution office refused to provide comments about the investigation. Lanekss representatives refused to give an interview as well.
NBS Commander Lt. Gen. Leonīds Kalniņš told the programme that the efficiency of the control mechanism has been improved thanks to additional special procedures that govern the way food is provided to troops. “This once again proves that we have to constantly improve,” he said.
Information from the Ministry of Defence shows that in five years Latvian armed forces have procured from Lanekss food worth a total of EUR 7.7 million. Laneks is the second biggest food supplier to Latvian armed force, falling behind Sanitex LLC, which in recent years has supplied food products worth approximately EUR 14 million.
LTV previously reported that when procuring goods in the Electronic Procurement System (EIS), it is possible the goods received could come from Russia. In one particular procurement LTV received a Russian-made tea under Greenfield brand. The label on the package clearly stated that the tea was made in St Petersburg some time before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The tea was supplied by Lanekss.
In 2022 Lanekss operated with turnover of EUR 5.62 million and profits of EUR 1.08 million, according to information from Firmas.lv. The company was registered in 2001 with a base capital of EUR 2 840. Its sole owner is Ņina Siliņa.
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