The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has finished the investigation into the facts to check whether by accepting gifts (gratuities) for doctor’s work Valdis Zatlers as a public official and as Chairman of the Council of the State Limited Liability Company „Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics” was respecting the requirements of the law „On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in the Activities of Public Officials”.
In checking the compliance of activities of Valdis Zatlers as chairman of council of state capital company with the law, it was established that in addition to his duties of public official in the Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics he was also working as a doctor. During the investigation testimonies were provided by patients of Valdis Zatlers undergoing treatment in the hospital between 2006 and 2007. 377 patients accepted to give a testimony. None of the patients interrogated attested that Valdis Zatlers - before or after the operation - would have asked additional payment (money) for doing the operation. Hence, in the activities of Valdis Zatlers as a public official and as a doctor, features indicating the commitment of a corruptive criminal offence were not established.
Meanwhile, it was established that as a doctor Valdis Zatlers has received gifts from his patients for doing the operation. Given this, as well as separating activities of Valdis Zatlers as chairman of council of state capital company (a public official) and as a doctor (not a public official), it was concluded that the gifts received should be considered as gifts received outside the public office. In assessing the value of the received gifts, it was established that none of those gifts, on which the interrogated patients provided information, exceeded the threshold of one minimum salary established by law for gifts allowed to be received by public officials outside their official duties (the version of the Law till 27 June 2007). The information provided by patients indicates that in two cases money, but in the other cases flowers, sweets, alcohol, articles made by patients were offered. Information about gifts not reflected in the public officials assets declaration (money) was sent to the State Income Service, according to their competence.
In the course of the investigation new facts were uncovered in relation to how the salary of Valdis Zatlers as Chairman of the Council of the State Limited Liability Company „Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics” was determined, as well as relating to provision of medical services to medical enterprise “ARS” by Valdis Zatlers in his capacity of doctor of the individual enterprise “Ortopēdijas privātprakse” (“Private Practice of Orthopaedics”). For verification of these facts a new investigation was launched.