Ex-mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs has caught Covid-19 in Riga Central Prison, as reported by Latvian Green Party and Union of Greens and Farmers co-chairman Edgars Tavars on Twitter.
Covid-19 test result was received on Thursday, 2 December.
The Prison Administration previously reported that since the end of November a massive Covid-19 testing campaign has been carried out among prison guards and prisoners. Some of the results are already available. 58 positive Covid-19 cases have been found so far. Because of this Riga Central Prison has extended the quarantine until 9 December.
As it is known, on 22 February 2021 Riga Regional Court sentenced Aivars Lembergs to five-year prison sentence, confiscation of property and a fine of EUR 20 000. Lembers was put under arrest in the courtroom immediately after the reading of the verdict.
However, Lembergs has appealed the verdict.
According to the Criminal Procedure Law, if a court of appeal instance receives a request to lift or amend a security measure, an investigating judge shall examine a complaint in a written procedure within three working days. If necessary, the judge shall request court materials, and explanations of the person directing the proceedings or the submitter of the complaint. Such an appeal is allowed to be submitted only if the accused suffers from health or family problems that may be considered a valid reason to lift of amend the security measure and as long as there are documents proving the condition.
The court decided to add to Lembergs’ sentence the period of time he spent under house arrest between 2007 and 2008.
Read also: A look back | Where did the criminally prosecuted ex-mayor of Ventspils get all of his money?
The court also ruled Lembergs is to pay victims in the criminal case compensation of approximately EUR 64 000. The court also decided to enforce from Lembergs legal costs of EUR 22 180 for services provided by the state-appointed lawyer.
Lembergs was found guilty in 19 episodes and not guilty in 21 episodes.
Lembergs was found guilty of bribery, document forgery, money laundering, service forgery, illegal participation in property deals, as well as reporting false information in income declarations.
He was found not guilty of abuse of official power and violations of restrictions imposed for state officials.
Lembergs’ son Anrijs Lembergs was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, as well as confiscation of property. He was declared guilty of money laundering and supporting participation in prohibited monetary deals.
Lembergs’ one-time business partner Ansis Sormulis was sentenced to two years in prison, as well as confiscation of property. Sormulis was declared guilty of supporting money laundering, money laundering and supporting participation in prohibited monetary deals.
The court also decided to terminate the criminal process portion involving Ventspils businessman Jurijs Bespalovs’ criminal activities due to statute of limitations. Bespalovs passed away in 2012.
Riga Regional Court commenced the trial in 2009.
Lembergs also ran and was elected in this year’s municipal elections Ventsils. He was not prohibited from running in elections because the guilty verdict has not yet come to force.
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