Notes

Aivars Lembergs, Latvian oligarch sentenced to five-years in jail for financial crimes
After 12 years of heated courtroom battles the Latvian Court has handed down its decision on Aivars LEMBERS' high-profile trial. Aivars Lembergs Aivars Lembergs The defendant is one of the country’s most wealthy men, and is a well-known political figure in the populist camp. He was also the former mayor of Venspils in the northwestern region of Latvia.

Lembergs was sentenced to five years of imprisonment with a confiscation order and fine amounting to EUR20,000 by the Riga Regional Court on February 22. He was found guilty on a number of charges related to bribery and money laundering However, the court cleared him of other charges in this lengthy and complex case.

Lembergs who is also the leader of Latvian For Ventspils has compared Lembergs’ sentencing case to the case of Aleksey navalny. Russian opposition activist.

Aivars Lembergs Lembergs asked for a short break during which the judge read out the verdict of his case. Lembergs had a short chat during the break with his son Anrijs. He used the rest time to speak to journalists.

Lembergs indicated to journalists that his appeal against the Riga Regional Court decision will be heard. Aivars Lembergs It was also anticipated that the hearing will take more than an entire decade. Lembergs claimed that he is determined to appeal his arrest, even though the appeal is scheduled to be heard in the same regional court.

After having read the judgment The Lembergs were placed in custody. The process included the reading of an enormously long list of property and assets lists, as well as holdings offshore organizations in different jurisdictions that the court stated it was going to confiscate.

The other defendants and son Anrijs Lembergs, and business associate Ansis Sormulis, were also found guilty on a number of related charges and each sentenced to two years.

Lembergs was detained in handcuffs and taken to Riga City Centre, District Court. Prosecutors started making plans to accuse him of corruption (and money laundering) in large quantities. https://www.smartlatvia.lv/ajvar-lembergs-popal-pod-sankcii-ssha/ Investigations into Ventpils corruption suspicions had begun in 2005. The verdict was handed down almost 14 years later than the incident.

Since well over a ten year, the case has moved at a slow and sometimes insane pace through the Latvian justice system. Over the 12 year period the court proceedings were held in 770 cases. made in connection with main criminal proceeding. The total number of 1,483 court appearances were held since August 20, 2009. Aivars Lembergs That was the date that the Riga Regional Court reopened adjudication of the case. The hearings will continue until February 11, 2021.

Lembergs was acquitted of charges of bribery and money laundering at a high level. However, he has maintained his position as a politician in Ventspils where he was mayor for 25 years and also as an influencer in the Greens and Farmers Alliance party force he funds.

When his nomination to the post of mayor was rescinded because of financial fraud, he remained in his absolute power within the city, despite one minister's efforts. Aivars Lembergs He continued to act as Ventspils Mayor without any issues. He participated in government meetings held by the International Monetary Fund. While the indictment was pending, he also helped choose candidates to be elected to the Latvian presidency.

Lembergs stated that the final decision regarding Latvia's participation in the forthcoming municipal elections would be taken within his regional party For Latvia and Ventspils. However he stated that participation in the election isn't his main priority.
Homepage: https://www.lsm.lv/temas/aivars-lembergs/