On Thursday, 10 November, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) published a ruling, in which the court admitted that the detainment of ex-governor of the Bank of Latvia Ilmārs Rimšēvičs in 2018.
At the same time, the court noted that after his initial detainment Rimšēvičs was released within 48 hours on bail.
The court also stressed that his arrest did not require sanctioning from a judge.
ECHR admits that in this particular case immunity was not applicable because the crimes Rimšēvičs is accused of are not related to his duties in the European Central Bank (ECB).
In February 2018 the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) detained Rimšēvičs and businessman Māris Martinsons.
The Prosecutor General’s Office presented Rimšēvičs with charges of bribery. Martinsons is accused of supporting bribery.
Rimšēvičs is also accused of money laundering. He denies his guilt.
The supervisory prosecutor over this case Viorika Jirgena previously said KNAB had commenced this case following two representatives of Trasta komercbanka. Both of them were previously suspects in the case, but they were relieved of criminal liability because they admitted their guilt and were the ones who voluntarily reported information about the crime in question.
The two representatives are Viktors Ziemelis and Igors Buimisters.
As part of security measures imposed on Rimšēvičs, he is prohibited from approaching certain people, such as Bank of Latvia official and former chairperson of the Finance and Capital Market Commission (FKTK) Irēna Krūmane and the two aforementioned men.
Jirgena previously said
one of the shareholders of Trasta komercbanka had turned to Rimšēvičs in 2010 with a request to assist with the Finance and Capital Market Commission (FKTK). In exchange for assistance, he offered Rimšēvičs a paid trip to Kamchatka.
In 2012 the same shareholder and another one had turned to Rimšēvičs again with a request to deal with FKTK again. As payment, Rimšēvičs requested EUR 500 000 to be paid in to instances – half in advance and the other hand once FKTK has made the «right» decision.
The prosecutor had previously stressed that after the 2010 deal, Rimšēvičs had provided several consultations to Trasta komercbanka shareholder in an attempt to influence FKTK’s decision. Consultations were provided after the 2012 deal as well. However, even though Rimšēvičs managed to influence FKTK’s decision-making, resulting in decisions that turned out beneficial to Trasta komercbanka, there were also decisions that were not beneficial to the bank.
Jirgena also explained that Rimšēvičs was paid only EUR 250 000.
According to the prosecutor, Martinsons played the part of the mediator – he was paid 10% of the total amount of the bribe.
The prosecutor believes Rimšēvičs used the EUR 250 000 bribe to purchase a piece of real estate on behalf of some company. The ex-governor of the Bank of Latvia became a co-owner of this property. Authorities have commenced criminal proceedings against this company for use of coercive measures, because money laundering was committed in the interest of this legal person. Criminal charges are related to the purchase of real estate property in Jurmala, Baznīcas Street 2 by Martinsons’ owned company MM Investīcijas.
Riga District Court in Jurmala will continue viewing the criminal case on 15 November.