On Monday, the 26th of February, Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) performed investigative activities at Riga City Council’s Department for Spatial Planning and Mobility as part of a criminal procedure initiated earlier in January.
LETA reports that in the morning of Monday investigative activities were performed in the office in Riga, Ģertrūdes Street. KNAB officers were seen on the floor of the building where the department’s management is located. Members of the management and acting chief of the department Jānis Vaivods were present there.
LETA was not able to contact Vaivods the whole morning – his phone was turned off.
KNAB did confirm to LETA that investigative activities were performed as part of a previous criminal procedure in the morning on Monday. KNAB did not mention where, however.
The investigation is in its active stage, and KNAB refrains from revealing more information about it. KNAB will report information about the number of people involved and the crimes under investigation once the investigation progresses and sufficient evidence is collected.
When asked by LETA, KNAB denied the investigative actions are related to last year’s inspection of road repairs organised by the Department of Transport last year.
In 2023 Riga City Council commenced reorganisation of its Department of Transport, reforming it into the Department for Spatial Planning and Mobility. Initially it was planned to perform the reorganisation by the 1st of September 2023, but following the request from the Mayor of Riga Viļnis Ķirsis and New Unity faction, it was decided to extend the reorganisation procedure.
Now it is planned to complete the procedure by the 1st of September 2025.
LETA previously reported that KNAB did not find any violations in the work done by Riga City Council’s Department of Transport in its organisation of street repairs.
Also read: 12 new electric trains to be available for passenger services in Latvia; the rest are still in testing
Follow us on Facebook and X!