RIGA - Latvia's leading corruption watchdog has called for charges to be laid against Central Election Commission (CVK) Chairman Arnis Cimdars, who allegedly abused his power to receive illegitimate bonus payments.
A dossier sent to the prosecutor's office from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) on April 20 alleges Cimdars ordered multiple unlawful bonuses for CVK members and himself between 2002 and 2006 totaling more than 73,000 lats.
Under the regulations and legislation governing the CVK, employees and officials are not entitled to bonus payments.
The extended investigation, which was carried out while KNAB was without a permanent head, faced ongoing delays due to judicial concerns.
"We have had similar cases at first glance, but each case is different and that's why we are making this a precedent, and we have to consider all judicial aspects," newly appointed KNAB head Normunds Vilnitis told The Baltic Times.
However, Vilnitis declined to provide further details about the investigation, saying the case was now in the hands of the courts.
"The criminal case has been sent to the prosecutor's office and now the office will decide whether to bring charges against the person or not. We have gathered all the evidence and the investigator thinks that this is enough to bring liable [charges]," he said.
KNAB determined during its pre-trial investigations that the state sustained damages of some 73,235 lats as a result of illegitimate decrees by CVK heads.
Vilnitis said KNAB had a proven track record in pursuing cases of corruption, misuse of power and conflict of interest in the courts, having won 69 verdicts in its favor.
"Talking in general about our criminal investigations, the quality is quite good. The number of persons that are not found guilty is really, really low and that means the quality of investigations is really good," he said.
"Often the public has heard that the bureau has loud investigations, but we do not [win] any court decisions… In fact right now there are 69 court decisions which are finished and most of them are in favor of KNAB," he said.
"You have to understand that these decisions are quite complicated so sometimes the cases go a very long time," he said.
KNAB has requested the prosecutor's office charge Cimdars with misuse of power. The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison or a fine equivalent of up to 200 minimum monthly wages.
The case comes as KNAB braces for an expected increase in corrupt practices and abuses of power amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Vilnitis said there were strong indicators to suggest those in positions of power were more likely to participate in illicit activities for personal gain.
KNAB is the leading specialized anti-corruption authority of Latvia, which aims to fight corruption in Latvia in a coordinated and systematic approach of prevention, investigation and education.
The organization's efforts to tackle systemic corruption in Latvia suffered a setback after it remained leaderless, following the controversial sacking of former director Aleksejs Loskutovs in June, 2008.
