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Several police officers in Latvia face disciplinary probe over purchase of motor vehicles not compliant with required emissions standards

BC, Riga, 24.10.2016.Print version
Several disciplinary probes have been launched after motor vehicles that do not comply with the purchase agreement have been delivered to the State Police, and the Internal Security Bureau has been asked to assess the responsibility of several police officials for the situation, reports LETA.

Police representatives said that the internal inquiry was conducted into the purchase of police automobiles to establish whether the Citroen autos that were delivered to the State Police are consistent with the requirements stipulated in the purchase agreement and whether the police officials in charge of the deal had done their job properly. The State Police found non-compliance with the agreement on the part of the supplier and possible disciplinary violations on the part of the police officers responsible for the deal.


A confirmation has been received from the French auto maker that the motor vehicles delivered to the Latvian State Police do not comply with the emissions standards stipulated in the purchase agreement. Although the vehicles' engines were supposed to comply with EURO 6 emissions standards, the information received from Citroen suggests that the engines only meet EURO 5 standards.


The facts established during the inquiry show that the Latvian police officials who had been charged with arranging the purchase did their job unprofessionally and carelessly.


Based on the facts discovered during the investigation, State Police chief Ints Kuzis has decided to open disciplinary cases against three individuals - two State Police officials and one employee. One of them has been suspended pending the probe.


The materials of the inquiry have been sent to the Internal Security Bureau, which is expected to assess the police employees' possible criminal liability.


The State Police have also sent the supplier a letter asking to deliver vehicles meeting the above requirements by January 1, 2017 in line with the purchase agreement. Until then, police will be using the delivered vehicles.


If the supplier fails to deliver the vehicles by the deadline set in the agreement, the Latvian side will consider terminating the agreement.


As reported, 17 new Citroen minibuses received by the State Police were to have EURO 6 engines, but they were recently found to have EURO 5 engines.


Company A26 is leasing 755 new vehicles, including the Citroen minibuses, to the State Police for a total of EUR 22 million over a five-year period.


According to Firmas.lv, A26 was established last December by Auto Ile un Herbst, Ad Rem Auto, and Auto 26. All three companies are associated with businessman Maris Ile.







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