Jail sentences in Latvenergo corruption case come into effect

RIGA - The jail sentences handed down to former Latvenergo  power utility’s former vice-president Aigars Melko, the company’s technical director Gunars Cvetkovs and Energy Consulting head Andrejs Livanovics in the so-called Latvenergo bribery case, came into effect yesterday. 

According to the charges, the bribery took place between August 1, 2007, and June 15, 2010. The bribe had to support interests of Alstom Power Sweden AB company in the public tender for reconstruction of Plavinu HES hydro power plant and TEC-2 thermal power plant. The size of the bribe was EUR 627,100.

The Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) sought prosecution of 17 suspects in the case. KNAB asked the law enforcement authorities to prosecute four former Latvenergo managers for graft, and two of them also for money laundering. Four authorized representatives of foreign companies are facing bribery charges, and eight individuals are facing money laundering charges. One of these people also faces prosecution for repeatedly mediating bribery deals. These company representatives include citizens of Spain, Turkey and Sweden. Another suspect is facing prosecution for aiding and abetting bribery mediation.

KNAB sent the case to the prosecutor's office on September 11, 2012.

The suspects detained in connection with the case included then Latvenergo president Karlis Mikelsons, his deputy Aigars Melko and businessman Andrejs Livanovics. They were later released on bail.

In April 2018, Riga Regional Court sentenced Melko four years and six months in jail, and imposed on him three-year and six months ban on holding a position of a board member in state and municipal enterprises. Cvetkovs and Livanovics were each  given three years and six months in jail and were banned from holding a board member position in state and municipal companies for three months.

Yesterday, the Criminal Cases Department of the Supreme Court rejected Energy Consulting's appeal against the regional court's ruling according to which the company is to be charged EUR 148,000 as a measure of justice,  and upheld the regional court's verdict.