Corruption, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Transport

Reinbahs is also the former head of the Latvian United Members' Trade Union.

LETA has not been able to get into contact with Reinbahs, as his mobile phone is currently switched off. The Transportation Department told LETA that Reinbahs has been on sick leave since the beginning of the week.

The interim head of the Transportation Department Agris Uplejs told LETA that he currently does not have any information that Reinbahs has been detained, and that he cannot make any comments on this matters.

As reported, yesterday's search of the Riga City Council's Transportation Department by the Corruption Prevention Bureau was connected with passenger transportation in the city.

CPB investigators suspect a Transportation Department official of demanding a bribe, in the form of regular payments to a trade union, in return for a favorable decision on passenger transportation in the city, CPB representative Inta Saboha informed LETA.

There are two suspects in the case. One of them is suspected of demanding a large bribe, the other – of supporting these illegal activities.

According to the Criminal Law's Section 320, Part 2, the applicable punishment for demanding a bribe is deprivation of liberty for up to ten years with or without property confiscation and relinquishing the right to hold certain positions for up to five years.

Saboha confirmed that the CPB carried out a search at the Riga City Council's Transportation Department yesterday. In accordance with the law, the municipality's representatives were present during the search and informed about the reasoning behind it.