Financial Services, Latvia, Taxation

"We have agreed [with Attorney General Juris Stukans] that in order to achieve an effective investigation of financial and tax crimes, we must have common priorities and a common goal," said the head of the SRS, adding that efficiency can best be achieved by working together, including providing an opportunity for prosecutors to conduct interrogations immediately.

Jaunzeme expressed hope that this autumn the specialized tax and customs prosecutor's office could start working in the premises of the SRS. "I would like to hope that by the autumn we are already in the same premises," said the head of the SRS, adding that there is space available in the building where the SRS is located.

Stukans previously underlined that the new prosecution office would be created, using the existing resources of the Prosecutor General's Office and that it would not require seeking any extra government funding. The number of prosecutors would not be increased either.

The prosecutor general said that if the experiment proves successful, he will propose a similar solution for the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) as well in order to make it easier for prosecutors to probe corruption crimes.