Crime, Latvia, Legislation

IDB confirmed to LETA that the bureau has launched a criminal procedure on alleged fraud in two tenders announced by the State Police related with procurement of State Police uniforms, representation and parade uniforms.

Possible inactivity of State Police officials as well as possible fraudulent activities of involved business representatives are being assessed in the present criminal procedure. The IDB has also conducted procedural activities also in several other companies.

There are several persons in the criminal procedure who have rights for defense, including two individuals - representatives of companies - have been detained.

"The bribery cases, abuse of authority and other crimes committed by state officials, investigated and discovered by the IDB are now regularly shocking the society, but I am satisfied, that the IDB team's competence and experience helps to efficiently discover such crimes." said IDB chief Valters Murnieks.

The State Police confirmed that the IDB has conducted searches in the State Police offices. With consent of the State Police officials, the State Police also confirmed that the procedural activities were conducted also in the offices of Fila-Roke and Krapsis.

The State Police has no information about any security measures applied on both officials and they remain in their positions.

The State Police and the officials are cooperating with the IDB and providing all the necessary information.

Krapsis confirmed to LETA that he has been assigned a status of a person against whom a criminal procedure has been started, but he categorically rejected all suspicions, saying that his conscience is clear and he has worked hard to ensure that the police has new and good quality uniforms.

Fila-Roke also has the status of a person against whom a criminal procedure was launched.

"I believe that in the position of the head of the tender commission I have not been inactive, I have always done the best I could," she said.

Acting State Police chief Andrejs Grisins told LETA that so far there is no reason to suspend the two State Police officials. Grisins said that the procurement of the uniforms is very complicated, but the independent audit conducted last year concluded that the tender had been organized lawfully.

Representatives of SRC Brasa told LETA that they cannot tell as yet whether any procedural activities have been conducted in the company. The company said it cannot comment on the case.

As reported, in early June the State Police received uniforms of a new design developed by fashion designer Bruno Birmanis. Two candidates applied for producing the uniforms, but one withdrew the application later. SRC Brasa finally was announced the winner of the tender. The sum of the agreement was up to EUR 2.4 mln.