Most criminal cases investigated by Latvian IDB last year dealt with bribes

In 2021 Latvian Internal Security Bureau (IDB) performed pre-trial investigations in a total of 143 criminal procedures of various size and complexity.
IDB also commenced 48 criminal procedures involving 89 crimes. The bureau also received 32 criminal procedures from other investigation institutions and continued pre-trial investigation of criminal procedures commenced in previous years.
This is what IDB reported at a meeting of Saeima’s Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee on Wednesday, 20 April. Participants of the meeting were presented with the bureau’s results for 2021. Meeting participants also discussed existing problems and priorities.
The report details that IDB made decisions on moving forward in 83 criminal processes or 58% of all received and investigated cases.
45 criminal procedures involving 156 crimes were submitted to the office of the prosecutor to commence criminal prosecution. A quarter of those cases were related to bribery. Other cases involved abuse of official power for personal gain, as well as property crimes.
Last year IDB arrested 33 vehicles, 14 pieces of real estate and money worth more than EUR 590 000 as part of criminal cases investigated by the bureau. The worth of property put under arrest exceeds EUR 1.1 million.
«Looking back at last year’s trends, we have to conclude that most cases investigated by IDB are related to bribery. This means the bureau’s strategic priorities will be focused on revealing cases of bribery committed by officials, their investigation and prevention, as well as further improvement of the bureau’s internal control system in institutions under its control. Now that the geopolitical situation has intensified, the state administration needs to promote public trust, behave honestly and loyally towards the state. We hope for successful cooperation with institutions under the Ministry of the Interior, so that we can implement IDB’s vision together – state security and public order is generated by honest and trustworthy officials!» comments IDB Chief Valters Mūrnieks.