KNAB Detains Kulbergs' Advisor

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) conducted searches on Wednesday in a case initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) regarding possible procurement fraud and abuse of office related to the use of European Union (EU) funds in a project by the Alūksne Municipality, EPPO informed the LETA agency. 

KNAB also carried out criminal procedural actions on Wednesday at the advisor to Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS), newly elected Saeima deputy Mārtiņš Brencis (AS), confirmed the Prime Minister's office to the LETA agency. 

Brencis did not come to work on Wednesday and is unreachable. The LETA agency confirmed that he is unreachable because his phone is turned off. The Prime Minister's office informed the LETA agency that KNAB did not visit the Prime Minister's office. 

The chairman of the Alūksne Municipality Council, Dzintars Adlers (JV), confirmed to the LETA agency that KNAB conducted procedural actions in the municipality today. None of the municipality's employees have been detained. 

"We provided KNAB with all the requested documents related to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project 'Development of Business-Critical Infrastructure in Alūksne Municipality,' as well as our phones," said Adlers. 

EPPO informed the LETA agency that at the request of EPPO, KNAB conducted searches and other measures in the investigation of possible procurement fraud and abuse of office involving officials of the Alūksne Municipality.