On Friday, 22 April, Riga City Vidzeme Suburb Court sentenced ex-chairman of Daugavpils City Council Rihards Eigims to three years in prison for requesting a bribe of EUR 10 000 and illegally storing eight firearm cartridges.
Eigims was sentenced by the court to three years in prison, a fine and partial confiscation of property, as well as prohibition to take managing posts in state and municipal institutions and companies. He will also remain under probation period upon his release, as reported by the Court Administration.
In this criminal case businessman Jānis Sprūgs was sentenced to one year and four months of prison for promising a bribe.
At the same time the company in whose interests the bribery was committed is sentenced to a coercive measure – enforcement of EUR 25 000.
The ruling of the court has not yet come to force, and it is open to appeal at Riga Regional Court.
It was previously reported that before submitting the case to the office of the prosecutor, it was investigated by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), which reported that in the procurement announced by Daugavpils City Council a contract was signed with the company associated with the aforementioned businessman.
In 2018 the official requested a bribe of no less than EUR 10 000 in exchange for supporting this company.
Eigims previously denied accusations of bribery. He said the whole case is politically motivated.
He said he has a permit to use and store firearms and related equipment, adding that KNAB is aware of this.
BNN previously reported that this criminal procedure is related to the procurement of reconstruction of education institutions. LLC Modus būve was picked as the winner. According to information from the Procurement Monitoring Bureau indicates that the total price of reconstruction of the education institution located on Parādes Street 7 is EUR 2 730 347 (VAT included).