Book review, Latvia, Legislation, Transport

This is the implication of material published today in the book "Ka nozagt miljardu?" ("How to steal a billion"), which shows testimony provided to the Office of the Prosecutor General by Savickis, businessmen Olafs Berkis and Jurijs Bespalovs, as well as banker Arnolds Laksa, most likely in the ongoing so-called "Lembergs case", informs LETA.

Information on an agreement by the so-called Ventspils and Riga groups to jointly privatize LK has previously appeared from unofficial sources as well as within Lembergs' criminal trial; however, the newly-published book features full signed testimonies by a number of people directly involved in the deal, as well as other materials in the possession of the country's law enforcement institutions.

In his testimony, Savickis admits having business relations with Lembergs in matters connected to the privatization of LK, firstly concerning privatization certificates, and later money.

"We held joint discussions of the main questions; most often there were four of us," tells the Itera Latvija president. The three others were Lembergs, Skele and Berkis. The meetings were held to discuss essential matters during the LK privatization process, for example privatization certificates and financing.

The discussions most often took place on the premises of a legal firm. "When we had made a business decision, the rest was done by technical people – lawyers and so on," indicates Savickis.

The Itera Latvija president notes that "Aivars Lembergs took part in the whole privatization process. All the main questions were agreed with Aivars Lembergs," indicates Savickis in his testimony.

At the time when, according to the testimonies of Savickis and Berkis, active preparations for the privatization were taking place, the Ventspils mayor was publicly denying that he wished to take part in the privatization of the shipping company, claiming that the deal was too insignificant and risky.