Anti-graft office asks for prosecution of Latvian central banker

Take note – story published 5 years ago

Latvia's anti-graft authority, the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has sent the materials of a criminal case to the prosecutor’s office, asking to prosecute Bank of Latvia president Ilmārs Rimšēvics and businessman Māris Martinsons, LTV learned June 18.

Previously KNAB started a case against Rimšēvics, suspected of having solicited and accepted a bribe of at least €100,000. Businessman Māris Martinsons is suspected of aiding him.

While KNAB does not disclose the names of the people it wants prosecuted, it reveals one of them is a "Bank of Latvia official", and the other is a private individual.

In an uncharacteristic move, KNAB published an infographic - without offering comment - that names Trasta Komercbanka as being involved in a scheme, with euro signs going from the bank into the direction of an official through m&m`s, the initials of Māris Martinsons. 

However, the precise significance of the enigmatic hieroglyphs released by KNAB is, at this stage, anyone's guess and immediately created a good deal of puzzlement and ridicule on social media. 

While Rimšēvičs is barred from performing his duties as Latvian central bank governor, he remains a member of the European Central Bank governing council. He is barred from leaving the country. He denies any wrongdoing and insists the case is retaliatory action by the country's commercial banks for his supposed opposition to their business model, though this too is a matter of some debate. 

 

Seen a mistake?

Select text and press Ctrl+Enter to send a suggested correction to the editor

Select text and press Report a mistake to send a suggested correction to the editor

Related articles

More

Most important