KNAB clears Rasima over housing compensation

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) found no evidence that Saeima member Leila Rasima of the Progressives deliberately created artificial conditions to receive housing rental compensation or otherwise sought to obtain state funds unlawfully, LSM reported, citing KNAB.

KNAB began the inquiry in early August after receiving a complaint questioning the grounds for the compensation because Rasima also owns property in Riga.

The bureau examined the basis for the compensation, the use of property owned by Rasima and the Saeima’s procedure for granting housing rental reimbursements. It also received the Saeima’s explanation of how the relevant regulations should be applied.

KNAB concluded that owning property in Riga does not, by itself, prevent a member of parliament from receiving housing rental compensation. According to the Saeima’s explanation, eligibility is assessed based on the place of residence declared by the member in their declaration as a state official and its distance from Riga.

The inquiry found no evidence that Rasima had deliberately created artificial conditions to receive the compensation or otherwise acted with the aim of unlawfully obtaining state funds. KNAB therefore concluded that, under the current regulations, she was entitled to request and receive the compensation, and that there were no grounds to identify signs of the criminal offence of abuse of office under the Criminal Law.

KNAB also noted that it had analysed transport and housing rental compensation received by members of the 14th Saeima from 2022 to 2026. The bureau found that the formal eligibility criteria had been met, but warned that the current system creates significant risks of unjustified and dishonest use of public funds.

In less than four years, the 14th Saeima paid more than one million euros from the state budget to cover transport and housing costs.