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Latvian Oligarch Aivars Lembergs jailed for five years for financial crimes
After 12 years of tense court battles, the Latvian tribunal has delivered the verdict of Aivars Leonardberg's high-profile trial. Aivars is one of Latvia's most wealthy individuals. He is also an influential populist politician. He was mayor for a time of Venspils which is a port in northern Latvia.

Lembergs was sentenced in the Riga Regional Court to five years in prison, confiscation and a fine that was in excess of EUR20,000 for a series of charges to which he admitted guilt to.

Lembergs (leader of For Latvia and Ventspils) has made a comparison of Lembergs to the Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny during his sentence.

Lembergs pleaded with the judge to take a brief rest as he read the verdict. During this break, Lembergs had a brief conversation with his son as well as co-defendant Anrijs and then used the remainder of the time to make comments to journalists.

Aivars Lembergs Lembergs informed journalists that he would appeal the Riga Regional Court's decision and it is likely that the appeal hearing could take another 10 years. Lembergs further stated that he plans to appeal the detention despite the fact that the appeal will be heard by the same regional court.

After reading the ruling after which the court took Lemberg into custody. They also read an incredible list of offshore assets and businesses that were held in many countries. The court said it would confiscate the assets.

His co-defendants and son Anrijs Lembergs and business associate Ansis Sormulis, were also found guilty on a number of charges that were linked and were each sentenced to two years.

Lembergs was confined in handcuffs before being taken to Riga City Centre, District Court. Aivars Lembergs Prosecutors started making moves to charge him with the bribery (and money laundering) on a massive scale. The investigation into Ventpils corruption suspicions had begun in 2005. More than 14 years later, a verdict is reached.

Aivars Lembergs The case has been proceeding through Latvian law for over 10 years at a slow pace. In connection with the main criminal proceedings the court proceedings occurred over the course of 12 years. There were 1,483 court proceedings in the time since the Riga Regional Court took over the adjudication process in the month of August, 2009. The court will continue to do so up to February 11, 20, 2021.

Lembergs was cleared of money laundering and bribery on a large level. But, he has maintained his position as a political leader in Ventspils where he was mayor for twenty-five years and also as an influencer in the Greens and Farmers Alliance party force he funds.

His election to mayor was disqualified because the mayor was accused of financial crimes. However, he continued to exercise power in the city, fighting off the efforts of one minister to be barred from serving as Ventspils president. He was a participant in meetings of the government along with the International Monetary Fund while indicted and assisted in the selection of candidates for Latvian presidency.

Aivars Lembergs Regarding Latvia's municipal elections, Lembergs said that the decision to be a part of the elections will be made by his regional party For Latvia and Ventspils, however, his potential participation in the elections is currently not his main priority. Aivars Lembergs
Read More: https://latvijaiunventspilij.lv/no-apcietinajuma-atbrivots-aivars-lembergs/