Court slaps five-year jail term on Lembergs

RIGA - The Riga Regional Court today slapped a five-year jail term, confiscation of property and a EUR 20,000 fine on Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs.

Lembergs will be arrested at the court room. The court, however, will take into account the time Lembergs has already spent in arrest - from March 14 until July 10, 2007, and in house arrest - from July 10, 2007, until February 22, 2008.

The court also ruled that Lembergs has to pay large sums to several victims in the case.

In relation to some charges Lembergs was acquitted.

Lembergs son Anrijs Lembers got a jail term of two years and one month with confiscation of property, while Lembergs' former business partner Ansis Sormulis was sentenced to two years in jail with confiscation of property. Anrijs Lembergs and Sormulis will not be arrested at the court room. They will have to go to jail when the sentence takes force.

Both parties will be able to appeal the decision at the Riga Regional Court. The court started hearing the case in 2009.

Prosecutors have asked to impose eight-year jail term with confiscation of property and a fine worth 150 minimum wages or EUR 64,500 on Lembergs.

Lembergs is charged with massive graft, money laundering, abuse of his official powers and other crimes.

The prosecution also demands a jail term of five years and six months with confiscation of property for Anrijs Lembergs, and a jail term of seven years with confiscation of property for Lembergs' former business partner Ansis Sormulis.

The three defendants plead not guilty.