Half a million euros for freedom: court released a suspect in the largest money laundering scheme in Latvia 0 6

In the case of the legalization of criminally obtained financial assets amounting to half a billion euros, along with Laisans, Artem Ryzhakov, Ruslan Gusev, Vladislav Osovskikh, Janis Purninsh, and Inga Ostrovska are accused.

Laisans was detained by the police in June last year, and he was placed under arrest as a preventive measure. Back in December 2022, the police indicated in a press release that serious resistance to the investigation began after the leader of the group was detained. It is unofficially known that during Laisans's arrest, he was transferred from the Riga Centralized Investigative Detention Center to the Liepaja Prison.

However, on November 8 of this year, after spending a year and a half in custody, Laisans was released on bail of 500,000 euros by the decision of Judge ELT Ieva Jankovska. The issue of changing the preventive measure was considered in a closed session, and neither the court nor Laisans's lawyer Elena Kvyatkovskaya disclose what circumstances led to such a decision.

The necessary amount was paid to the court within two days by several individuals who do not have procedural status in the case. The legality of the origin of the funds is confirmed by the payment documents and written statements submitted to the court, explained ELT representative Laura Tomsone to the magazine.

At the moment, the following measures have been applied to Laisans: an obligation to report a change of residence, a travel ban, and a requirement to regularly appear at the police station at his place of residence, writes Ir.

Since August, when the court began considering this extensive case, four court hearings have taken place. According to the Criminal Procedure Law, priority is given to cases where the accused is in custody. Now, after Laisans's release, the case is no longer considered a priority.

Prosecutor Imants Orubs noted in a comment to the magazine that changing the preventive measure may affect the further consideration of the case. Until now, he said, there have been no signs of delays in the process. How it will proceed will become clear at the next hearing.

According to Ir, 500,000 euros is the largest bail amount under which a person has been released from custody in Latvia. Before Laisans, such a measure was applied to the accused in extortion and money laundering, former insolvency administrator Maris Sprudss, and the entrepreneur Maris Martinsons, who is suspected in a corruption case related to "Rīgas satiksme."

As previously reported by LETA, the substantive hearing of the case in ELT will continue on December 16.

According to information from "Firmas.lv", Laisans is currently one of the beneficiaries of the companies "Ramm", "RZ59", "ReEnergo", "Centro". He is also the sole owner of the companies "Investblok", "EMNi", "MRC", "Elters" and the beneficiary of "Train Way".

The prosecution claims that the group members have been legalizing more than 500 million euros in cash obtained through criminal means for a long time by purchasing expensive real estate in Latvia and abroad, investing in its improvement, maintenance, and construction, as well as acquiring movable property and luxury items.

The financial resources were obtained as a result of crimes provided for in the Special Part of the Criminal Code, committed under circumstances not established during the pre-trial investigation, the prosecutor's office indicated.

The group members distributed responsibilities according to each one's capabilities to contribute to achieving the common goal. The crimes were committed from September 2007 to February 2024.

The pre-trial process concerning a registered legal entity in Latvia regarding the application of coercive measures has been completed. It has been established that the crime was committed in the interests of this legal structure, based on the authority of one of the criminal group members to represent it, make decisions, and exercise control. The materials concerning the legal entity have been transferred to ELT.

More than 90 decisions on the arrest of property have been made within the criminal process. Arrests have been imposed on six real estate properties in Spain worth more than 8.5 million euros, 42 real estate properties in Latvia, cash funds amounting to 157,569 euros, cash in the amount of 114,732 euros and other amounts in various currencies, 29 vehicles, including luxury cars and a collection of vintage cars, shares in enterprises, more than 40 jewelry items made of precious metals and stones, collectible coins, and elite wristwatches.

The accused do not admit their guilt.

Earlier, the De facto program of Latvian television reported that Laisans is involved in a case concerning an international organized crime network engaged in the illegal distribution of cigarettes in EU countries and the UK. During searches in Ludza, an underground factory with equipment and raw materials was discovered. In this case, 25 Ukrainian citizens involved in cigarette production were detained. A total of 300 million cigarettes and 47 tons of shredded tobacco leaves were confiscated.

In April of this year, the State Border Guard (SBG) informed the media that it had transferred to the prosecutor's office for criminal prosecution a case against 25 Ukrainian citizens involved in illegal cigarette production in Ludza. Agreements on punishment were concluded with 23 of them.