Appeal court upholds prison term for businessman Trubko over bribe offered to Riga councillor

The Riga Regional Court on Monday decided not to alter the first-instance verdict in the case of businessman Igors Trubko, a former chairman of the management board of the company Rīgas namu apsaimniekotājs. He was convicted of offering a bribe of 2.1 million euros to Mārtiņš Kossovičs, who was then head of the "Par/Progresīvie" faction in the Riga City Council. The ruling means the real prison sentence stays in force, although it can still be appealed.

The court's decision and reactions

Trubko does not admit guilt. He said he would like to study the full judgment and will use the opportunity to appeal it; he had hoped the appeal court would change the lower court's verdict. Prosecutor Ilona Kurca told journalists she considers the decision well founded. She said the panel of judges reviewed both the circumstances set out in the indictment and the first-instance verdict, and found Trubko guilty of the offence he was charged with. The full judgment is due to be available on 26 October, and it can be appealed within ten working days.

The earlier verdict

The Economic Affairs Court had previously found Trubko guilty and sentenced him to a real prison term of four years and six months. He was also banned for five years from engaging in any kind of commercial activity. The company Rīgas namu apsaimniekotājs was fined 200 minimum monthly wages, or 124,000 euros. Preventive measures – notifying authorities of any change of residence and a ban on leaving the country – remain in place until the judgment takes effect. A freeze on the property at 5 Emīlijas Benjamiņas Street in Riga, imposed to secure the payment of financial penalties, also stayed in force.

Background

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) said earlier that the bribe was offered so that the company represented by the businessman would win a concession tender and take over some of the buildings managed by the municipal company Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks. The businessman reportedly told Kossovičs which tender conditions would favour Rīgas namu apsaimniekotājs. Kossovičs told journalists that he had informed KNAB about the offer.

In spring 2021, Rīgas namu apsaimniekotājs proposed taking over some buildings of the municipal company on an experimental basis, having picked out 60 buildings with healthy reserves. According to Firmas.lv, Trubko was chairman of the management board from spring 2018 and has been chairman of the supervisory board since May 2023. He is also an indirect co-owner of the company.