On July 25 this year, the police opened criminal proceedings against an unregistered company in Latvia, which had illegally involved at least 50 children in collecting donations at the entrances of various shopping centers across Latvia. Three persons were arrested, two persons born in 2002 and 2005 were remanded in custody, and on Thursday, November 28, the court decided not to change the arrangement.
Under the guise of a charitable foundation, a job offer was placed on an internet site inviting children from the age of 14 to become advertising agents. The job applicants were told that they did not need to know Latvian, and were offered flexible working hours and daily pay.
The children were given fake documents purporting to justify their presence at the fundraising sites. The organizers provided false information to job applicants about the true nature of the work on offer. Both the minors and the donors were told that the collection was organized for the treatment of seriously ill children in Europe.
The minors were also trained on what to answer to questions asked if checked by police.
At the end of the day, each volunteer returned to their rented office in Riga with the day's collection, where the donation boxes were opened, the money counted and distributed.
20% was paid as a reward to the child who collected the donations, and the rest was distributed among the members of the organized group.
The investigation revealed that the donations were spent on the welfare of the organizers - expensive branded electrical equipment, private trips, and the purchase of intoxicating substances.
In total, the company illegally involved at least 50 children and obtained funds of at least €80,000.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated for trafficking in human beings if it endangered the life of the victim or caused serious consequences, or if it was committed with particular cruelty or against a minor, or if it was committed by an organized group (Article 154.1 (3) of the Criminal Law). This provision provides that this offense is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to 15 years, with or without confiscation of property, and probation supervision for a term of up to three years, with or without confiscation of property.
An active investigation is ongoing.
