An unexpected turn in the bribery case of the former head of the Criminal Administration of Customs Vashkevich

The former head of the Customs criminal administration, Vladimir Vashkevich, was arrested by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) in 2011 on suspicion of giving a EUR 50,000 bribe to an official of the State Revenue Service (SRS), but was soon released on EUR 85,000 bail.

Since then, Vaškevičs has not been in Latvia – for some time he lived in Austria. Well, almost 13 years have passed, and the trial is coming to an end. A verdict was expected on Tuesday, but what the judge said came as an unexpected surprise to the litigants.

Viesturs Gaidukevičs

the judge

The court finds that physical evidence from Criminal Case 1120094510, in which the verdict entered into force, 13 discs, one flash memory, 2 mobile phones, was apparently mistakenly attached to this case. Here it is! Prosecutor’s opinion? Maybe you need to familiarize yourself with the evidence?

It did not become clear to the participants of the case during the several-minute long hearing, which evidence is exactly what we are talking about, but the court will give them time to familiarize themselves with their arguments in writing.

“Most likely, there were video recordings and conversations on those DVDs,” says prosecutor Edgars Brumermanis.

When asked if this comes across as a rebuke to the prosecutor’s office, he answers: “I cannot comment at the moment, I will get acquainted with the protocol of the court session, let’s evaluate whether it was evidence that the prosecutor referred to in the debate, or the defense side. [TV3 Ziņas: Vai nav dīvaini, ka tas notiek tagad, vai tiesai to nevajadzēja ātrāk pamanīt?] If the court finds such circumstances, it has the right to renew and check the evidence again.”

Vashkevich’s lawyer’s assistant had come to the court session, who explained that she was not entitled to comment on the case.

Vashkevich’s lawyer explained in writing that she cannot comment on the court’s decision to reopen the court investigation, as it is necessary to get acquainted with the materials specified by the court and “check everything”.

Meanwhile, it is an open question what the “dry balance” of this court will be. Unofficially, it has been said that Vashkevičs is staying in Russia – this means that even in the case of a conviction, when he is declared on the international wanted list, it is unlikely that Russia would extradite him to Latvia.

Edgars Brumermanis

prosecutor

Mr. Vashkevich is abroad, the prosecutor’s office and the court have not been able to find out his place of residence for several years, so the judge himself did not participate in the process.

When asked in which country Vashkevich is located, the lawyer mysteriously remains silent.

Jelena Kwiatkovska, lawyer: “As for Mr. Vaskevich’s non-participation in court hearings, the court made a decision to review the case in absentiaand that’s all I can say about that.”

The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday – court debates and rejoinders will take place again. The prosecutor estimates that a verdict in this case could be reached within this month.