Riga court nears end of police radar procurement trial

The first-instance trial of former senior State Police official Normunds Krapsis, who is accused of abusing his position and disclosing restricted information in a video radar procurement case, is nearing its conclusion, LSM reported.

Former police official Andris Locs is also on trial, accused of assisting in the abuse of official position.

Prosecutors allege that Krapsis ensured the police signed a 2018 contract with the company RECK to buy video radars and measuring equipment on terms favourable to the company. The equipment specifications submitted to the police chief allegedly matched one company’s video radars from the outset, limiting competition. Krapsis is also accused of disclosing information to a bidder before the tender was announced.

Krapsis denies the charges. He said he had spent 30 years in the police trying to provide officers with good working conditions and professional equipment. He added that efforts to improve colleagues’ resources could meet resistance within the system, which he said had led to criminal proceedings in his case.

Krapsis is also among the defendants in a separate criminal case concerning alleged irregularities in the procurement of State Police uniforms. That case is still being heard.