According to the press release of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) and the LETA news agency, the KNAB has obtained sufficient evidence that a representative of the information technology company "SOAAR", with the support of two current and one former employee of the CVK, defrauded the budget of the CVK in large amounts. As a result of the criminal activities, the CVK suffered a material loss of at least EUR 149,920.
KNAB evidence shows that the entrepreneur, with the support of the former Chairperson of the CVK Kristīne Bērziņa, allegedly carried out actions for a certain information technology company to obtain the right to implement services related to the provision of election management systems for the 2021 municipal council elections as a result of a procurement negotiation procedure.
The investigation revealed that the contractor allegedly provided false information on the planned services in the tender documentation, thus receiving payment from the CVK for work not actually carried out. The CVK employees involved signed the forged documentation, knowing the consequences of the illegal actions initiated by the contractor.
During the pre-trial investigation, no facts have been established that would cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2021 municipal council elections.
It is proposed to indict the former chair of the CVK for abuse of office with serious consequences, aiding and abetting large-scale fraud and falsification of official documents, the entrepreneur for large-scale fraud, and the current employees of the CVK for aiding and abetting large-scale fraud and falsification of official documents.
Information available on the website of the Procurement Monitoring Office shows that in June 2021 SOAAR was awarded a contract worth €275,370 by the CVK for the implementation of changes to the election management system, technical support for voting and counting, and user support for the 2021 municipal council elections.
In April of the same year, the company was awarded a contract worth €154 802 for the implementation of the current changes to the election management system, technical support for the preparation of candidate lists and ballot papers and user support for the 2021 municipal council elections.
