One of the highest-profile criminal cases of recent years came to a dramatic conclusion January 21 with the acquital of former Latvian railways chief Uģis Magonis and Estonian businessman Oleg Ossinovski on bribery charges, Latvian Radio reported.
Crime
Cruel treatment of animals is still ongoing in Latvia, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) told Latvian Radio January 20.
Prosecutor General Juris Stukāns has established a new prosecutor's office targeting crimes committed by state officials, Latvian Television investigative broadcast De Facto reported January 17.
According to State Police, the crime rate in Latvia fell slightly in 2020 compared to the previous year, Latvian Television reported January 16.
Over the weekend there have been many violations of curfew regulations, around 1000 cases, the Chief of State Police Armands Ruks told Latvian Television January 18.
It has been six nights in total that curfew from 22:00 to 5:00 has been imposed in Latvia. However, according to the Latvian Television camera crew, there are still people who believe that these rules do not apply to them, LTV reported January 10.
Police caught 1,338 infringers of curfew rules during the weekend and around 3,500 altogether, Latvian Television reported January 4.
The State Police have identified more than 1,500 violations of the emergency restrictions on New Year's Eve and have also imposed substantial fines, Latvian Radio reported January 1.
In the case of a black panther removed from an apartment in Rīga early this year, three accused persons pled guilty and have been fined, according to December 29 information of the prosecutor's office.
Parcel delivery service Omniva said December 29 there have been fraud messages sent to residents requiring payment transfer to bank account.
A total of 335 administrative infringement proceedings have been initiated during holidays, the State Police said December 28.
During the Christmas holiday, 52 drivers under the influence were caught on Latvia's roads, Normunds Krapsis, chief of the State Police, told Latvian Radio December 28.
Latvian State Police are repeating advice to motorists to act responsibly after catching 15 drivers under the influence of alcohol on December 24.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has launched a resoric check on the use of free parking permits granted to Riga City Council deputies, KNAB told LETA December 21.
Latvian Police acted December 20 to disperse an illegal protest at the Freedom Monument in central Rīga, Latvian Television reported.
Approximately 100 members of the picket against COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday could receive an administrative penalty, Chief of State Police Armands Ruks said on Latvian Radio December 14.
The Riga Regional Court on Wednesday, December 9 remanded Jāzeps Zukuls, the board chairman of confectionery company Adugs, accused of alleged human trafficking, in custody, the LETA newswire reported.
The Latvian State Police have on December 9 detained physician's assistant Marina Kornatovska and activist Valentīns Jeremejevs in connection with alleged distribution of false information about COVID-19, according to information from the LETA newswire.
The Rīga Municipal Police (RPP) have started a total of 153 administrative infringement proceedings in relation to the alleged failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, RPP Chief Juris Lūkass said at a press conference December 8.
Latvian State Police said December 7 that in the month since the declaration of the latest state of emergency, the State Police has initiated a total of 1,168 administrative violation proceedings, for failures in compliance with epidemiological safety measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 infection.
The Data State Inspectorate (DVI) has started an investigation into the publication of surveillance footage in which the Prime Ministerm Krišjānis Kariņš, is shown at a store without wearing a mask, Latvian Television reported December 7.
Latvian telecoms company Tet (formerly called Lattelecom) announced December 4 it was ditching chairman and chief executive officer Juris Gulbis after he was named in connection with a long-running corruption court case.
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) said December 4 that on December 3 it carried out "court-sanctioned procedural actions" (usually a way of saying "raids") involving seven persons in and around Rīga "in connection with suspicions of violation of international sanctions".
Aivars Lembergs, the Latvian politician described by the U.S. Treasury as a corrupt oligarch and subjected to sanctions as a result, made himself even more controversial November 28 by leading a mass advent gathering in the town he has run for more than two decades, without wearing a mask.
Baked goods company Adugs rejects all accusations about human trafficking, said Anna Lencberga, the company's manager of development, on November 25.
Latvian State Police has detained businessman Jāzeps Zukuls, board chairman of baked goods producer Adugs, on suspicion of human trafficking, the LETA news agency reported November 20.
The Internal Security Board of the State Revenue Service (VID), in cooperation with the Tax and Customs Police Office, last week detained a high-level VID official, Latvian Television reported November 17.
Five days before the seventh anniversary of the Zolitūde tragedy, the full verdict of the Criminal Court has finally been delivered, Latvian Television reported November 16.
On Sunday evening, homophobia-based physical and emotional attack was carried out against cultural researcher, Professor Deniss Hanovs of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), Latvian Radio reported November 9.
As the coronavirus spreads, so does disinformation related to it. How to stop it? Latvian Television spoke to responsible ministries and State Police October 31.