TALLINN - The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged former minister and MP Villu Reiljan with demanding a 1.5 million-kroon (95,867-euro) bribe on Sept 5.
The charge resulted from the Environment Ministry's controversial sale of a building at Ravala 8 in central Tallinn to the Wipestrex Group in 2006. According to accusations by the prosecutor's office, Reiljan guaranteed the sale to Aivo Parn, owner of Wipestrex Group, on the condition that Reiljan would receive a 1.5 million-kroon kickback from the deal. Reiljan, a former minister for environmental affairs, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
"I have not asked for a bribe either directly or via someone, neither for myself nor for People's Union. I have not made any favorable decision with regard to Parn's companies," Reiljan told the court.
The court can put the MP on trial, as his diplomatic immunity was overturned by Parliament in March, a move of which Reiljan claimed he was in favor, stating that it would speed up court proceedings and help clear his name. "I am interested that the court proceedings are swift and fair," Reiljan said.
Following the initial investigation into the Ravala 8 sale and the subsequent concerns of the Public Prosecutor's Office, Chancellor of Justice Indrek Teder moved in Parliament to vote for stripping Reiljan of his diplomatic immunity on March 20. Eighty-six MPs voted in favor of removing immunity, while only two defended Reiljan and one remained neutral.
Jaanus Marrandi, chairman of the Estonian People's Union, told The Baltic Times that the party would stand by Reiljan until the court makes its decision. "He's a very important member of our party; he was the previous chairman of our party. We will wait for a solution from court," Marrandi said.
The court's indictment extends to Tarmo Sild, then Reiljan's attorney at law, and Parn, who were charged with mediating a bribe and promising to pay a bribe, respectively. Relations between Reiljan and Sild have come under further scrutiny due to Sild's successful fishing companies MFV Lootus and Lootus Teine, which he founded and sold but continues to manage.
The newspaper Aripaev is chiefly responsible for that scrutiny, having reported that Sild's companies received exclusive fishing quotas from Reiljan that caused the businesses' value to swell from 42 million kroons (2.7 million euros) to 94 million kroons (6.1 million euros) in 2004 's the same year Reiljan took office.
Reiljan denies all knowledge of Sild's fishing business and accuses Aripaev's articles of being politically motivated attempts to sway public opinion before his upcoming trial. "Someone must be interested in influencing the public. Most likely it's connected to someone. Proceedings in Estonia are starting to become political," Reiljan said.
Reiljan is the most senior politician to face corruption charges and could be handed a prison sentence of up to five years if convicted.
