LTV analytical programme De Facto reports oddities involving the trial of the insolvency administrator Mārtiņš Bunkus murder case. The programme reports that the possible shooter has been released from custody.
The trial is currently ongoing at Riga City Court. Criminal charges are presented to businessman Mihails Uļmans and Aleksandram Babenko [the biggest owner of Mego network of stores], as well as the potential killer – Russian citizen Viktors Krivošejs.
De Facto notes: a Russian crime news portal recently published leaked documents related to criminal proceedings. Participants of the case do not doubt the authenticity of these documents. The documents show that Krivošejs had initially admitted his guilt. He was never paid in full for the job. This is why in spring 2022 he returned to Riga from Moscow to recover what he was owed. Then he was apprehended by authorities.
Police found a written admittance of guilt,
which he carried on him in case someone tried killing him.
On top of that, he had recorded a video on his phone, detailing the crime. The programme reports: Krivošejs and the police cooperated and recorded a conversation in which Babenko mentioned payments to the possible organiser of the crime – Genādijs Vaļagins (was murdered last year).
However, several months after his arrest, Krivošejs sharply changed his position, denying his previously given testimony.
In autumn last year Krivošejs was released from custody. De Facto notes
this decision caused a great deal of confusion
“among law enforcers”. Judge Anastasija Pasjuga explained to the programme: “It was not found that at the relevant stage of criminal proceedings, detention alone would prevent the risk of evasion and the risk of interference with the pre-trial investigation.”
Prosecutor Aldis Lasmanis told journalists that “fortunately the person in question did not leave the country and committed another crime. This gave us reason to arrest him again.”
De Facto notes: Krivošejs had met with the victim’s brother and had disclosed to him information about the investigation, which is why he was arrested again.
Also read: Those accused in administrator Bunkus’ murder to attend trial in person