Four officials of State Fire and Rescue Service detained for fraud

RIGA – The Internal Security Bureau has detained four officials of the Riga regional department of the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), including a section commander, in suspicion of fraud and counterfeit of documents, LETA learned from the bureau.

The officials had counterfeited the documents tracking working hours, and as a result the officials were paid for the time they had not actually worked. The counterfeit had been conducted in a long time period.

Two of the detained persons had been given the status of suspects and they are banned to fill their office duties. Two others had been given the status of persons against whom a criminal procedure has been started.

VUGD acting chief Intars Zitans told LETA that VUGD is viewing allegel legislative breaches of its employees very seriously. VUGD will take all necessary steps to preven any such fraud in the future.

Zitans said that VUGD is cooperating with the internal security bureau and providing all necessary information. Two officials have already been suspended from their office duties, a decision is underway on the third person, while the fourth person is not a VUGD employee any more.