The minister refrained from mentioning the names of the officials suspended from their posts, but did not deny that one of them was Ēriks Ezeriņš who led the procurement commission and is affiliated with National Alliance. The Minister said that, according to the information available to her, Ezeriņš is no longer a member of her party.
The minister said that at the same time, the Ministry of Defense (AM) is conducting checks on other officials who have participated in the procurement commission, including both NBS officials and financiers.
Mūrniece also said that AM lawyers have been asked to assess the legal aspects of terminating the food procurement contract. At the same time, AM is working on a plan “B” — solutions if the procurement contract is terminated. “If the contract is broken, then the army will be provided with food. [..] The army will be catered for, I have no doubt about it,” added Mūrniece.
As reported earlier, a relatively small company has acquired the right to provide logistical services for food supplies to NBS over the next five years. Some are concerned that the process has been unfair. The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) launched an investigation on March 3 during which three persons were detained.
