Officers of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) are conducting searches August 21 at municipal offices in the town of Ogre, central Latvia, and have detained mayor Egils Helmanis, reports Latvian Radio.
Three people have died of suspected methanol poisoning in Bauska Region, the State Police told the LETA newswire August 7.
It sounds like the plot of a classic nineteenth-century novel, but Latvian police say they are ready to bring to justice people involved in a plot to gain land via means of a forged will.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) is asking the prosecutor's office to bring charges against eight persons, including Ugis Broza, an official at the Riga City Council's Transport Department, for various crimes and violations allegedly committed during reconstruction of Salu (Island) Bridge in Riga, the LETA newswire reported August 6.
In the first half of 2019, the number of counterfeit money detected in Latvia decreased compared to the same period last year, according to the Bank of Latvia.
On Wednesday, July 24, a driver fleeing police struck a police motorcycle in Ogre, according to LETA. Two more policemen have been injured as well as the fleeing driver, who is now in custody, said Andrejs Sozinovs, Chief of the Criminal Police Department of the State Police, in an interview on Latvian Television.
An official from the Ludza department of the State Border Guard was detained on July 22 on suspicions of graft and an attempt to smuggle five persons across the state border in an organized group, LETA was told at the State Border Guard.
Attorney and former judge Uldis Bērziņš has been killed at his home in Mārupe, a suburb of Rīga, according to the LETA news agency.
Interior Minister Sandis Ģirģens (KPV LV) has ordered an intense investigation into a likely act of car arson in Kuldīga municipality.
The prosecutor's office of the Riga judicial district has brought charges against Niks Endziņš, who last year was detained for producing and spreading fake news, LETA reported July 15.
A Rīga prosecutor has submitted a murder case to the court, implicating two young men, including one who was a minor at the time of the crime, for murdering a young woman.
Rīga city councillor and former Justice Minister Baiba Broka denied accusations of taking a bribe July 12, reported LSM's Latvian language service.
In July 2019, the Dobele branch of the State Police liquidated two marijuana farms – one in the Penkule parish of the Dobele municipality and the other in the town of Ķegums of the Ķegums municipality, reported LSM's Latvian service on July 10.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) operatives investigating a recent criminal case of bribery detained not only Baiba Broka, a Riga City Council member and former Justice Minister, but also businessmen Guntis Ravis and Ivars Millers, the LETA newswire reported July 9.
The criminal case concerning central bank governor Ilmārs Rimšēvičs has been sent to court for trial, according to information published on the website of Latvia's Prosecutor General.
A former Justice Minister was reportedly detained by officers of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) July 8, along with two other people in connection with a bribery probe, reported LSM's Latvian language service.
On the night of June 1, the State Police (VP) intercepted 15 tonnes of smuggled vodka and, in connection with this crime, arrested the former Saeima candidate from the Harmony party Ziedonis Apariņš, according to information obtained by LETA on July 5.
Already on the first day of the receipt lottery, the State Revenue Service (VID) noticed that the state is not receiving taxes from some receipts, reported LSM's Latvian service on July 2. Almost every fifth receipt submitted and checked receipt contributes nothing to the state. This number coincides with the expert estimate of the prevalence of shadow economy in the country.
Former Rīga mayor Nils Ušakovs has been given the status of a suspect in the ongoing criminal proceedings initiated by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), LSM's Latvian language service reported June 1.
As of 1 July 2019, the State Revenue Service (VID) will have the right to check persons on public roads to make sure that sums above 10 000 euro in undeclared cash are not being brought into the country. These inspections, however, will be based on operative information and VID does not intend to inspect everyone, said Ieva Jaunzeme, the Director-General of the State Revenue Service in an interview with latvian Radio on June 27.
It is necessary to conduct an audit that would assess factors that negatively impact efficient progress of the criminal cases on economic and financial crimes, said the Justice Ministry in an informative report delivered to the Cabinet of Ministers June 25, reported the LETA newswire.
In what is likely the most serious case of espionage to date, a national firearms system manager may have been disclosing Latvian secrets to Russia for six years. While the accused does not plead guilty, the prosecutor estimates significant harm done to the state. This is, however, only the third open case of espionage in Latvia. In this respect, it falls behind Estonia and Lithuania, reports Ella Semjonova on LSM's Latvian service on June 18.
The State Revenue Service (VID) has raided several Catholic churches, announced the Roman Catholic Church in Latvia on June 11.
Saeima voted June 6 to lift the parliamentary immunity of KPV LV deputy Atis Zakatistovs, opening the way for him to face charges in connection with an alleged illegal business scheme.
The State Environment Service (VVD) has issued a "decision-warning" about partial suspension of operations at Olaine chemical plant Biolar – suspending the manufacturing of the chemical porofors, the LETA newswire reported June 5.
Latvian central bank governor Ilmārs Rimšēvičs has had the charge sheet against him further extended with an accusation of money-laundering added to the charge he already faced of soliciting a massive bribe, reported the Bloomberg financial newswire June 4.
Due to suspicions of corruption, there is a risk Latvia will have to repay 10.95 million euros allocated from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to the project for construction of Ventspils Music School, according to comments from the Central Finance and Contracting Agency’s (CFLA) official Daiga Reihmane, reported by the LETA newswire.
In a report published June 3 on corruption prevention in Latvia in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group (GRECO) said it "regrets the lack of measures concerning regulation on lobbying, parliamentary ethics and conflicts of interest."
Although penalties for the distribution or use of illegal plant protection products may reach up to 350 euros for individuals and 700 euro for legal entities, unauthorized weed or pest chemicals can easily be obtained at the Rīga Central Market.
A dispute between three men over hockey turned into a brutal fight with two men dead and one under arrest, the Latvijas Avīze daily reported May 26.