Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has sent to Prosecutor’s General Office criminal case asking to start prosecution against official of the Ministry of Finance for bribing official of the State Revenue Service (SRS) in order to ensure illegal activities in the area of customs administration.
In the course of pre-trial investigation it was discovered that from December 2010 until January 2011 official of the Ministry of Finance has paid bribes of 52 880 EUR and Ls 5 600 to the SRS official several times. Purpose of these payments was to ensure that certain persons and companies are not checked by the SRS. Information collected during the investigation indicates that these bribes were also paid for ensuring that tax payments are not controlled properly and no measures are taken in fighting smuggling and in the area of customs administration.
KNAB investigator suggests starting prosecution against official of the Ministry of Finance for giving a bribe if that is committed by a public official under the Article 323.2 of the Criminal Law.
In co-operation with the SRS during the investigation it was detected that officials of two companies are involved in illegal movement of excise goods in countries of the European Union, including Latvia and have evaded taxes of at least Ls 2 million. For further investigation of tax evasion all the information was forwarded to the Finance Police Board of the SRS.