Corruption, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Real Estate

Furthermore, the bank points out the Girts Straujums, the prime minister's son, has been a loyal bank employee since 2008 and is currently managing several of the bank's subsidiaries, Kipena added.

As reported, the CPB began its probe into a possible conflict of interest involving Straujuma after an article published in the investigative news portal ''pietiek.com'' about a company connected with her son.

CPB spokeswoman Laura Dusa confirmed to LETA that the CPB began the probe in connection with the June 3 article published by ''pietiek.com''.

The article points out that the matter of a relatively valuable property in Riga to be put up on auction has popped up on the government's agenda.

The property in question is located next to another property owned by a subsidiary of Norvik banka, whose only board member is Girts Straujums, the son of the prime minister.

The company called Norvik Port Development has been attempting to either sell or lease the property for quite a while, a businessman revealed to the portal. Discussions with possible investors have failed, as the property owned by Norvik Port Development has been described as too small for the development of other projects. Thus, if Norvik Port Development is to obtain the adjacent property being put up on auction, it would have a greater chance of selling the property and for a higher price.

The auction order of the property, owned by the Finance Ministry, has been prepared for Straujuma to sign and was submitted on May 29 to the Justice Ministry, Economy Ministry and Transport Ministry to be coordinated. Before the order is signed, if none of the ministries object, a final decision must still first be made by the government.

LETA also reported, CPB Chief Jaroslavs Strelcenoks said earlier this week that he is being "politically pressured" and that the CPB has begun a probe into Straujuma's supposed conflict of interest – this in wake of the prime minister's decision to set up a committee to evaluate Strelcenoks' suitability for office.