The 46-year-old man and 19-year old youth were arrested after information about them was received on June 1, prompting an immediate criminal investigation. During the probe police found that the resident of Rēzekne working as a taxi driver in Riga had taken advantage of three boys between the ages of 15 and 18 after the accomplice lured them to the hotel room with alcohol and promises of entertainment.
According to news obtained by national information agency LETA, the detained man is former chairman of the Rēzekne Russian Society Aleksandrs Pušņakovs, who was previously accused of lewd acts with minors in 2012, earning him a two-year jail sentence.
Reports state that the man used his vehicle on the day of the crime. Evidence shows the man was introduced to the victims with the help of the 19-year old accomplice.
Police officers at the scene of the crime expressed their shock at the indifference of the hotel staff, who witnessed the arrival of both the victims and accused, cleaning up the spent condoms but failing to inform police of the obviously suspicious nature of the incident.
Both men are still being held by police under suspicion of violent sexual crime against a minor performed in a group, for which the accused could face from five up to twelve years in jail.
Police have published mug shots of the arrested men as there is reason to believe they may have perpetrated their crime against other underage victims as well.
