Corruption, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Transport

As reported, on Wednesday the court arrested Igors Volkinsteins, head of the Rigas Satiksme municipal public transport company's infrastructure maintenance and development department, and businessman Maris Martinsons.

As reported, six persons have been detained by the KNAB in Latvia in connection with the procurement scandal involving the Rigas Satiksme municipal public transport company, as well as another two have been detained in Poland. KNAB on Tuesday carried out more than 30 searches.

The Polish and Latvian anti-corruption offices have detained people who have been helping to hide a EUR 800,000 bribe. The Central Anti Corruption Bureau of Poland (CBA) findings indicate that the money was to be a payment, a financial benefit for arranging a contract for the delivery of nearly 200 buses and trolleybuses to Riga. The tenders were organized by Rigas Satiksme in 2013-2016.

According to LETA archives, Rigas Satiksme has been purchasing public transportation vehicles from Polish company Solaris Bus & Coach for several years.

Meanwhile, construction company Velve that is related with detained businessman Maris Martinsons has been involved in the project for construction of hydrogen stations for Rigas Satiksme municipal public transport company.