Latvian court of law found Skinest Rail was responsible for the EUR 500 000 bribe that was handed to Ugis Magonis when he was still chairman of Latvian Railway.
On the 26th of March Vidzeme District Court ended the trial against Estonia company Skinest Rail in the criminal case regarding the handing of the EUR 500 000 bribe to the now former manager of Latvian Railway Uģis Magonis, as LETA was informed by the court.
The court concluded that in 2015 the company Skinest Rail was the sole contender in the procurement organised by LLC LDz Rolling Stock Service regarding the purchase of four 2TE116 series used diesel locomotives. The Latvian company was interested in purchasing these locomotives, and there were no other company that could have supplied them, as confirmed by witnesses interviewed by the court.
The court concluded that the price of four 2TE116 used diesel locomotives met their market value or was even lower. The conditions set by LDz Rolling Stock Service do not suggest Skinest Rail could have gained profits that would have significantly exceeded the amount the prosecution suggests was given to Magonis as a bribe. This means there was no link between the bribe and interests of Skinest Rail.
The verdict of the court of the first instance is subject to appeal.
Previously it was reported that Vidzeme District Court in Limbaži gave the accused Estonian businessman Oleg Ossinovski and Magonis a full acquittal on the 21st of January 2021, concluding that all of the accusations against them were unjustified.
The verdict was appealed and is now reviewed by Riga Regional Court.
More on this topic: Prosecutor requests four years in prison for Uģis Magonis and Oleg Ossinovski
Also read: European Central Bank may start lowering interest rates this summer
Follow us on Facebook and X!