On Thursday, the 25th of May, Riga City Court announced its verdicts in the so-called Daimler bribery case. The court approved the deal, which provides for the accused paying back EUR 1.5 million to the state.
According to the deal reached between the prosecution and the accused, the latter admit their guilt, pay back EUR 1.5 million to the state budget and agree to conditional prison sentences. At a previous court hearing the court confirmed the money transfer process has already commenced.
Among the accused are Riga City Council chairman Gundars Bojars’ former advisor and once the deputy chairman of Rigas satiksme LLC Leonards Tenis; Bojars’ other advisor, businessman Armands Zeihmanis and his wife Vita Zeihmane, director of Sweden-based company Raimonds Krastiņš, as well as Agris Koroševskis and businessman Sergejs Zambers.
Charges were presented for bribery and support of money laundering.
The prosecution office submitted the case to court in summer 2013. According to the prosecution,
various officials received bribes worth more than EUR 5 million.
One of the accused may have embezzled nearly EUR 1 million, which was intended as bribe to be handed to some state official.
Daimler bribery case was one of the biggest criminal procedures handled by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) in this institution’s history. Together with KNAB’s uncovered crimes, other countries commenced their own criminal procedures.
The criminal procedure in Latvia was commenced over Daimler subsidiary Evo Bus officials’ decision to procure 117 Mercedes Benz between 2002 and 2006 at inflated prices. Bribery was involved as well.
Also read: European Commission praises Latvian KNAB’s “efficiency”