In 2021, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) initiated 39 criminal proceedings and sent 27 criminal proceedings to prosecution authorities, prompting the prosecution against 45 natural and five legal persons, making it the highest number of criminal proceedings transferred to prosecution authorities in at least the last five years. Simultaneously, 5.6 mil. EUR criminally acquired financial resources in KNAB investigated criminal proceedings were confiscated and transferred to the State budget, as well as 8.6 mil. EUR financial resources were seized.
KNAB Director Jēkabs Straume stated: “The eradication of corruption is a lengthy process, which is inconceivable without the honest conduct, active involvement and cooperation of the citizens, public and private sector. With focused and unrelenting efforts, Latvia can make progress in building an open, honest and corruption-free society.”
In 2021 KNAB initiated 39 criminal proceedings, most commonly related to laundering of proceeds from criminal activities by foreign officials, and bribery. Whereas the most commonly investigated criminal offence in the 27 criminal proceedings transferred to the Prosecutor’s office was fraud and bribery. In 2021, 17 criminal proceedings, that had been sent for prosecution by KNAB in the previous and other years, were adjudicated, with 4 persons being convicted to actual imprisonment.
Additionally, KNAB adopted 256 decisions on violations of restrictions of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials. 222 public officials were fined for a total of EUR 40 365, and the most frequent violations were related to the use of information from databases, available for the performance of official duties, for personal interests, as well as violations of restrictions on combining offices. To compensate the State for the damages caused, KNAB requested public officials to reimburse EUR 29 506.57.
In 2021, KNAB adopted 108 decisions in administrative proceedings related to violations of the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) and the Pre-election Campaign Law, detecting 71 unlawful actions in the activities of political parties and other legal and natural persons and imposing a total of EUR 16 890 in fines. KNAB also adopted six decisions on the repayment of EUR 18 112.72 to the State budget.
Last year KNAB trained the highest number of people in educational activities over at least the past five years. In 2021, KNAB trained more than 10 000 people on prevention of conflict of interest, ethics, and various other anti-corruption issues. At the same time, KNAB received 1 833 reports on possible corruptive and other illegal activities, which is the highest amount of reports received in at least five years.