Corruption, Estonia, Financial Services, Legislation

Workers of the Internal Security Service (ISS) conducted a search in the home of Edgar Savisaar on Sept. 22 last year as part of an investigation in which Savisaar had been declared suspect in repeated bribe-taking. In the course of the search more than 200,000 euros of cash was found in the home.

Following an in-depth analysis of the income and expenses of Edgar Savisaar, the Public Prosecutor's Office filed a request with the court to have the cash attached.

Steven-Hristo Evestus, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said the request for attachment of the cash to secure potential seizure of assets was filed after an in-depth analysis and that the court has granted the request by now.

"Hence the Internal Security Service and the Public Prosecutor's Office have solved matters that are important for concluding the pretrial investigation and will in the coming few weeks give the defense access to the evidence that will be presented in the judicial proceedings," Evestus added.

Savisaar, chairman of the opposition Center Party, has been excluded from the office of mayor of Tallinn by a court order pending the conclusion of the corruption investigation.