The Riga Regional Court on Monday overturned a first-instance court ruling, convicting former Latvijas Dzelzceļš (Latvian Railways, LDz) CEO Uģis Magonis and Estonian businessman Oleg Ossinovski of bribery, and sentencing Magonis to two-and-a-half years in prison and Ossinovski to a fine of EUR 151,700, the court told LETA.

The Regional Court overturned the Vidzeme District Court’s January 21, 2021 acquittal of the two defendants, agreeing with the prosecution that its appeal was well-founded and that the money accepted by Magonis from Ossinovski constituted a bribe.

The Riga Regional Court sentenced Magonis to two-and-a-half years in prison and Ossinovski to a fine, taking into account that the defendants’ right to have the criminal proceedings completed within a reasonable time had been violated.

The court also ordered the confiscation of part of Magonis’ property, including a Mercedes-Benz automobile, more than EUR 800,000 in cash, and three wristwatches. In addition, the court banned Ossinovski from participating in public procurement procedures organized by the state and municipalities, as well as state- and municipal-owned companies, in any capacity for three years.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the bribe itself – EUR 499,500.

The full ruling of the Riga Regional Court is still pending, but it may be appealed to the Supreme Court once released.

As previously reported, on January 21, 2021, the Vidzeme District Court in Limbaži acquitted Magonis and Ossinovski of bribery charges, finding the accusations against them to be unfounded.

According to the prosecution, in the summer of 2015 Magonis received money to facilitate the purchase of four diesel locomotives by LDz Ritošā Sastāva Serviss, a subsidiary of Latvijas Dzelzceļš, from Skinest Rail, a company owned by Ossinovski.

Source: BNS

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