Four soldiers facing criminal charges for stealing and selling military equipment

RIGA - The Specialized Prosecution Office for Organized Crime and Other Branches has brought charges against six persons, including four soldiers, for stealing military equipment and selling it online. 

The six persons have been charged with misuse of official position for private gain that has led to severe consequences, property theft and large-scale money laundering, the prosecution office's representative Aiga Eiduka told LETA.

The prosecution office's representative revealed that the criminal activities have resulted in a loss of more than EUR 100,000 to the state, although some of the stolen items have been recovered. 

The stolen property included firearms equipment and ammunition. 

It unclear when the case will be sent to court for hearing. 

National Armed Forces (NAF) press officer Sandra Brale told LETA that this is an extraordinary case and that the officers involved in the theft had already been discharged from the military. 

To prevent similar incidents in the future, the National Armed Forces have introduced additional security measures to ensure stricter control, with the emphasis on digitalization.

As reported, at the beginning of 2019, the Defense Ministry informed LETA that the Latvian Military Police had launched a criminal investigation against several NAF officers suspected of stealing large amounts of military equipment for a longer period of time.

Defense Ministry spokesman Kaspars Galkins said that a disappearance of nigh vision devices was discovered during a stocktaking at a NAF storehouse but did not comment on what else had been stolen from the NAF facility.