First scandal of the year arrives

Jan 09, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

CITIZENSHIP FOR SALE: Old-style passports are alleged to have been issued fraudulently (Photo: OCMA)

RIGA 's Just days after taking power and promising to raise standards of public administration, Latvia's new government is attempting to downplay the significance of an alleged passport-buying scandal.

Latvian police are believed to be investigating nine individuals, including public officials, of forging documents required for the issue of Latvian passports. The suspects are believed to have created the forgeries in order to issue passports to individuals who had no legal right to them, in exchange for cash payments.

Two suspects have been arrested, while others are imposed other restrictions. The police do not reveal any other details, promising to inform about the case later.

One of the suspects is reported to be Olita Magone, head of the secretariat of the special assignments minister on electronic affairs, who has resigned from her post. Magone earlier was the director of the residents' register department of the Interior Ministry's Board for Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP).

Police said that about 100 documents had been issued illegally.

Responding to the new evidence of corruption in public administration, new Interior Minister Mareks Seglins said he did not believe it was necessary to initiate a disciplinary case against Vilnis Jekabsons, head of the PMLP.

However, he did say that he expected "actions worthy of a leader" from Jekabsons.

The PMLP head indicated that the passports that triggered the controversy were issued legally, but that the data that were entered into the Residents' Register had been taken from fake forms.

Jekabsons also said that such illegalities were now impossible since the introduction of EU-standard passports. "The security system of these passports has been tripled, and such manipulations are impossible," Jekabsons claimed.

Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis dismissed suggestions that the passport buying scandal could have hamper negotiations with the U.S. on lifting visa requirements for Latvian travelers.

In an interview with 900 Secundes TV program, the premier said the uncovering of the racket showed that authorities are capable of "detecting such processes."

"It shows that the system is capable of self-regulation, and that is good," the prime minister said.

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