Prosecutor Monvīds Zelčs will likely submit a protest over the verdict issued by the court of first instance, which provided all of the accused in the so-called second digital television criminal case with a full acquittal.
On Monday, 31 January, Zelčs told journalists that first of all he intends to wait for the full verdict, because he does not aware of the court’s arguments.
Judge Kaspars Vecozols of the Court of Economic Affairs told journalists after presenting the verdict that LLC Tet (prev. Lattelecom) is one potential victim. However, the company has not applied for victim status in the criminal case. Both former and current officials interviewed so far has testified there were not misled and neither was the contract signed under false pretenses, adding that no damages to society were caused.
Zelčs does not agree with this explanation. The prosecutor has made multiple public comments that the absence of a victim does not automatically mean there was no crime committed.
The prosecutor is confident that based on testimonies from Tet council and shareholder representatives it is clear their trust was abused. «They don’t know how the amounts were calculated, if they are justified and how. My opinion is opposite to the judge’s opinion, that there is no testimonies or evidence proving deceit and abuse of trust,» stresses Zelčs.
As for the indication that in the so-called first digital television case seems so far to conclude with a verdict beneficial for the accused, the prosecutor said this case deals with a different act, different crimes and conditions. He did not deny that the two criminal cases are related through the same people and «infamous establishments».
«Nevertheless, there are differences that set them apart from one another,» said Zelčs, reminding that he previously submitted a protest over the not guilty verdict issued by Riga Regional Court. This protest now needs to be reviewed by the Supreme Court. The prosecutor is confident that the Supreme Court will not maintain the previous verdict in force.
The prosecutor also rejected the claims from politician Ainārs Šlesers that he did not participate in a single court hearing. Earlier in January Zelčs informed the court that he is unable to prepare a protest in the digital television case in such a short period of time, adding that it is because of this objective reason that he would not be able to participate in the trial and that his colleagues would replace him.
More on this topic here: Court acquits all accused in second Digitalgate in spite of serious charges
Prosecutor will likely submit protest over first instance verdict in Digitalgate criminal case
