Tax evasion lands one in prison in Latvia

Kurzeme District Court announced the verdict in a criminal case involving tax evasion. The office of the prosecutor submitted the criminal case to the court for review on 30 December 2019. However, restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic and other reasons pushed the review back, and the verdict was announced just recently.
According to official charges, the accused as the sole owner of a company and the board chairman with signature rights had intentionally avoided payment of taxes and other duties between 21 January 2010 and 20 May 2013. The state suffered losses worth EUR 86 816.03 as a result of this.

The accused refused to testify and did not admit her guilt, as reported by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Latvia.

The court found the accused guilty of tax evasion and sentenced her to a five-month prison sentence. The court also revoked her right to engage in all forms of business activities for a period of two years.
The prosecutor requested the same sentence.
The court also decided to enforce from the accused EUR 86 744.72 in favour of the state.
The accused has the right to appeal the verdict.
A different criminal procedure was separated from this one during the pre-trial proceedings. This criminal procedure is also about tax evasion and causing damages to the state. The accused here is another official of the same company. Between 21 May 2013 and 9 December 2015 this official intentionally avoided paying taxes and other duties for a total amount of EUR 89 492.66.
The accused denied his guilt.
The prosecutor handed this criminal case to Kurzeme District Court on 30 December 2019. The court of first instance announced the verdict on 18 February 2022 – guilty. The man was sentenced to an eight-month prison sentence with rights to engage in any kind of entrepreneurship taken away for a period of two years.
The prosecutor requested the same sentence. The court also enforced EU 89 444.84 from the accused in favour of the state.
The defence then submitted an appeal of the verdict, requesting acquittal for his client. Kurzeme Regional Court plans to review the case on 29 July.