The investigation of the murder of insolvency administrator Mārtiņš Bunkus revealed that the crime was organised by criminal kingpin Genādijs Vaļagins, as reported by TV3 programme Nekā personīga. This man was in a good relationship with both detained businessmen Mihails Uļmans and Aleksandrs Babenko.
These three also had financial ties, according to Chief of Criminal Police Criminal Investigations Office of Latvian State Police Romāns Jašins. The shooter that did the deed was previously tried for the murder of Jelgava businessman, director of VETA LLC Haralds Veters in 1997.
The programme also reports: high-ranking police officer Jānis Kāpostiņš was suspended for a possible leak of information related to the investigation. He has retired since his suspension, but the internal investigation still continues.
In the 90s Genādijs Vaļagins represented the so-called Ivans Haritonovs group, which was the second largest criminal group after the Pardaugava group. The money they extorted from businessmen was laundered through real estate purcases in Latvia and foreign countries. Vaļagins, who was then known as Dlynniy [Long] was considered Haritonovs’ right-hand man. He was in charge of the group’s money and its laundering.
Leaders of this group were put on the bench of the accused after considerable efforts from the police, as multiple important witnesses were killed over the years. Vaļagins was found guilty. He was released from prison in 2000. This man still retains influence over the criminal works in the Baltic region and Russia, police say. According to information available to journalists, police believe Vaļagins was the one who organised Bunkus’ murder.
Viktors Krivošejs was picked as the shooter. He was involved in Veters’ murder in 1997. The businessman was kidnapped when he was on his way from his home in Jelgava, and was later found dead not far from where he kept his car. Five people were arrested for his murder, including Krivošejs. According to Jašins, he spent 15 years in prison. After his release, he left to Russia, where he received this country’s citizenship.
Police have evidence that Krivošejs attempted to murder Bunkus in 2016, but the weapon jammed and the assassination attempt failed.
The murder attempt took place along the route Bunkus normally took, specifically the location where there are no surveillance cameras but are many escape routes.
Riga City Region prosecutor Aldis Lasmanis told the programme that at least EUR 300 000 was paid for the murder. The organiser received the money from the client and then divided the amount among accomplices. The prosecutor did not reveal how much money went to each member.
Jašins said the investigators believe the motive was Bunkus’ professional activities: «He [Bunkus] started digging deeper and deeper. This caused risks. […] Bunkus went too far and they saw him as a potential enemy!»
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