Skele and Slesers' shares in different companies arrested

RIGA - As part of a criminal probe into the so-called digital TV affair, the Prosecutor General's Office has arrested properties and shares in different companies that belong to former businessmen and politicians Andris Skele and Ainars Slesers, LETA learned on Tuesday.

According to Firmas.lv, Skele's 88,888 shares in company Uznemumu Vadiba Un Konsultacijas and shares in company TA Sabiedriba were arrested in March.

Likewise, Slesers' shares in company Avadel, worth EUR 10,000, have also been arrested.

As reported, the persons charged in the digital TV case include former prime minister Andris Skele, former transport minister Ainars Slesers, former Lattelecom (now Tet) CEO Juris Gulbis, as well as the Transport Ministry's former state secretary Nils Freivalds and Lauris Dripe, the former head of the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC).

Nothing Personal, an analytical news program of TV3 channel, reported earlier that criminal charges in this case have also been brought against former Lattelecom managers Janis Ligers, Toms Abele and Toms Meisitis, as well as former Hannu Digital head Gintars Kavacis.

Prosecutor Zelcs said that each suspect had their specific role in the fraud scheme. The prosecutor did not reveal the amount of illegal proceeds, but information obtained by LETA suggests that these were around EUR 3 million.