Court hands down suspended sentences for Covid-19 vaccine fraud

RIGA - The Economic Affairs Court has handed down suspended jail sentences and community work to two persons, including a healthcare employee, for fake vaccination against Covid-19, according to the verdict that has been released to the public. 

The healthcare employee was charged with soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for fake vaccination against Covid-19, as well as with gaining access to and tampering with a vaccination database by entering fake information. 

The other person tried in the case for soliciting and accepting bribes. 

The healthcare employee had been authorized to ensure a correct processing of patient data linked to vaccination against Covid-19 and entering vaccination data in the e-health system. 

An investigation established last fall that two people contacted the healthcare employee who  promised to provided them with fake certificates of vaccination against Covid-19 for a EUR 1,000 bribe. The healthcare employee demanded that the money be paid in two installments.

The money was collected through the fixer also charged in the vaccine fraud case. 

The healthcare employee was given a suspended sentence of one year and six months, plus a year under probation. He was also banned from working as a medical receptionist for two years. 

The other person charged in this case was sentenced to 150 hours of community work.