The Riga City Court, in a criminal case concerning large-scale fraud, has sentenced two former drivers of former Riga mayor Nils Ušakovs (S) to prison terms and ordered them to pay substantial compensation, reports Latvijas Avīze.
Ušakovs’ former drivers Andris Saulītis and Juris Kukulis were charged with large-scale fraud against the municipal company “Rīgas satiksme,” while the company’s former Technical Support Director, Ingvars Šnikvalds, was charged with aiding them. Saulītis and Kukulis were sentenced to four and two and a half years in prison respectively, while Šnikvalds received five years of probation supervision. All three have been ordered jointly and severally to compensate “Rīgas satiksme” for the defrauded amount — approximately €247,000.
The case against these individuals was separated from the so-called Riga City Council fictitious employees case. According to the court ruling, Saulītis had been involved in fraudulent activities several years before the coalition of the parties “Saskaņa” and “Gods kalpot Rīgai,” led by Ušakovs, came to power in Riga City Council.
Saulītis allegedly reached an agreement with the now-deceased “Rīgas satiksme” employee Igors Volkinšteins that he would be formally employed by the company as a locksmith but would not perform any actual work duties.
Saulītis was hired in April 2001 and, despite not working in reality, remained officially employed until January 2019.
During this period, he received approximately 102,000 euros in salary payments from the municipal company. Including mandatory state social insurance contributions and personal income tax payments, “Rīgas satiksme’s” total expenses amounted to 185,405 euros. According to the newspaper, Volkinšteins informed Šnikvalds about the fictitious employment of Saulītis, and Šnikvalds allegedly “covered” the scheme.
In a similar manner, Kukulis was hired as a locksmith at “Rīgas satiksme” in January 2015. At the time, he was one of Ušakovs’ drivers and Saulītis’ colleague. Kukulis was also reportedly placed in the position by Volkinšteins, with Šnikvalds being informed. Kukulis was fictitiously employed for four years, receiving approximately 34,000 euros in salary, while the total costs to “Rīgas satiksme,” including taxes, amounted to 61,363 euros.
The accused have denied their guilt, claiming they were hired as “undercover employees” tasked with monitoring theft of fuel, tools and parts. However, the company reportedly received no written reports from either of them regarding any violations, the newspaper notes.
By the decision of the court of first instance, all three defendants were found guilty of fraud. The verdict may be appealed before the Riga Regional Court.
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