Appeals court upholds prison sentences in Rimšēvičs bribery case

Riga Regional Court on Tuesday upheld the first-instance verdict sentencing former Bank of Latvia president Ilmārs Rimšēvičs and construction entrepreneur Māris Martinsons to prison for bribery offences, LSM reported.

The first-instance court found both men guilty, but the verdict was appealed. Rimšēvičs and Martinsons deny the charges.

Rimšēvičs was charged with accepting bribes, including a paid holiday trip to Kamchatka and money, as well as laundering criminally obtained funds.

The first-instance court found Martinsons guilty of giving a bribe and laundering criminally obtained funds.

Riga District Court in Jūrmala sentenced Rimšēvičs to six years in prison, banned him from holding state or municipal office for five years, imposed a one-year-and-one-month probation period and ordered the confiscation of his property. Martinsons was sentenced to five years in prison and property confiscation.