KNAB chief ordered political phone taps - Jurass

RIGA - The head of Latvia's scandal-ridden anti-corruption bureau (KNAB), Normunds Vilnitis, was accused Tuesday of ordering numerous unjustified phone taps of prominent politicians by one of his senior staff members.

KNAB's head of criminal intelligence, Juris Jurass, told a parliamentary committee that he had refused to comply with Vilnitis' orders and that he sent a letter to the prosecutor's office regarding the incident. He claimed that Deputy Director Juta Strike, who has temporarily left the country after receiving threats, was also present for the request.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis was quoted by online news portal Delfi as saying that he would not suspend Vilnitis based on the testimony, instead waiting for the prosecutor's office to take action.

Dombrovskis has been critical of Vilnitis over a reorganization of the corruption watchdog that the chief was spearheading.

Jurass also told the committee on fighting corruption that Vilnitis was using the reorganization to consolidate power by removing or demoting those that he did not consider loyal to him personally.

Vilnitis was appointed head of KNAB in 2009 with the support of then prime minister Ivars Godmanis. He took over from Aleksejs Loskutovs, who lost his position as part of a scandal that also brought down the government. Loskutovs is now a member of parliament.