The Prosecutor's Office anounced that on Wednesday, April 24, it submitted a proposal to the Saeima for consent to commence criminal prosecution for a criminal offense provided for in Section 177 (3) of the Criminal Law.
The proposal is based on the decision of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) of 29 March 2019 to initiate criminal proceedings against two persons.
Zakatistovs has not been officially named by KNAB or the Prosecutor yet, but as previously reported by LSM, the academic-turned-politician who once specialized in teaching courses on business ethics is suspected of involvement in a scheme involving bogus contracts for consultancy work and illegal party financing.
Zakatistovs is a dual Latvian and Canadian citizen. He has maintained his innocence thus far.
The request has yet to be entered onto the Saeima's work schedule, but Zakatistovs is due to be in parliament April 25 to introduce amendments to insurance laws on behalf of the Budget and Finance (Tax) Commission
Saeima is likely to approve the lifting of Zakatistovs' immunity having done so already once since the Saeima was formed in October in the case of New Conservative MP Juris Jurašs.