Corruption, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Port, Transport

Ainars Slesers and Aivars Lembergs.

In a media statement released yesterday, the Corruption Prevention Bureau said it had forwarded materials in a criminal case to the Prosecutor General's Office yesterday so criminal prosecution against two persons could be launched – one for failing to declare his or her income, involvement in unlawful real estate deals, and trading in influence, and the other for trading in influence.

The Corruption Prevention Bureau has not revealed the names of the two persons. Last month, however, the bureau said that Slesers had the status of a suspect in the so-called "oligarch affair". The bureau's chief Jaroslavs Strelcenoks previously said that the "oligarch case" could be forwarded to courts in the first half of 2015.

Now that the Corruption Prevention Bureau has forwarded the materials in the case to the prosecutor's office, a prosecutor will have to take a decision within ten days whether to open criminal prosecution.

In mid-August, Latvian State Television (LTV) reported that Lembergs had the status of a suspect in the "oligarch case" – he was suspected of trading in influence. Lembergs, in turn, denies any wrongdoing.

Also last month, Slesers held a press conference to tell reporters that, although he had the status of a suspect in the case, investigation in the case had fallen through overall – he was originally implicated in serious crimes, but now he is suspected of minor violations.

As for Lembergs, LTV said the Corruption Prevention Bureau believed that in the spring of 2011 he influenced then Freeport of Riga board member Viesturs Silenieks (Greens/Farmers) so he would vote for the election of Riga Vice mayor Andris Ameriks (Honor to Serve Riga) to the port's board, in order to later ensure that the port sign advertising agreement with Mediju nams, the publisher of the "Neatkariga Rita Avize" newspaper. According to Lembergs, such allegations are absurd as Ameriks, being the vice-mayor of Riga, would have been elected to the port's board all the same.

The so-called "oligarch case" was launched in May 2011 in accordance with the Criminal Law on bribery, corruption, money laundering, abuse of power, and other crimes.

Initially, there were eleven persons involved in the case. The Corruption Prevention Bureau carried out various searches, including at residences and offices of Lembergs and former People's Party leader Andris Skele, and also at Mediju nams offices.