Supreme Court initiates cassation proceedings in Lembergs' criminal case

RIGA - The Supreme Court has initiated cassation proceedings regarding the Riga Regional Court's ruling in the corruption case of former Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs (For Latvia and Ventspils), LETA was told at the court.

In September 2023, the Riga Regional Court found Lembergs guilty of a number of corruption offences, but reduced his prison sentence handed down by a court of first instance by one year. The appellate court sentenced him to four years in prison and confiscation of his property. Lembergs was acquitted on part of the charges.

The Riga Regional Court informed that Lembergs' case file consists of 349 volumes. The judgment of the court of first instance runs to 1,924 pages, while the judgment of the court of appeals runs to 579 pages. The case contains a statement by the public prosecutor and 15 cassation appeals, totalling 1,021 pages.

Having analysed the information in the case file, the Supreme Court has identified issues that need to be examined, which are grounds for initiating cassation proceedings.

As reported, the court of first instance on February 22, 2021, slapped a five-year jail term, confiscation of property and a EUR 20,000 fine on Lembergs who was tried for massive graft, money laundering, abuse of his official powers and other crimes.

Lembergs was arrested at the court room. The court, however, took into account the time Lembergs had already spent in arrest - from March 14 until July 10, 2007, and in house arrest - from July 10, 2007, until February 22, 2008.

The court also ruled that Lembergs has to pay large sums in compensation to several victims in the case.

Lembergs' son Anrijs Lembers got a jail term of two years and one month with confiscation of property, while Lembergs' former business partner Ansis Sormulis was sentenced to two years in jail with confiscation of property. Anrijs Lembergs and Sormulis were not arrested at the court room. They will have to go to jail when the sentence takes force.