Latvia refers two hospital procurement cases for prosecution

Two of seven criminal cases concerning hospital medical equipment tenders have been referred for prosecution, LSM reported. Three people have been charged in one of the cases.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) opened the seven cases over the past two years. They concern suspected unlawful agreements between employees of state and municipal hospitals and medical equipment suppliers to ensure the companies won public tenders, KNAB acting chief Ineta Cīrule said.

The cases cover eight tenders at seven hospitals: the Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Vidzeme Hospital, Ogre District Hospital, Liepāja Regional Hospital, Bauska Hospital and Jelgava City Hospital.

One case referred for prosecution concerns Ogre District Hospital. The other involves a procurement related to the da Vinci robotic surgery system.

EPPO prosecutor Gatis Doniks said three people had so far been charged in one of the two cases referred to the office. He expects the number of accused to rise and said EPPO expects KNAB to transfer the remaining cases for further investigation and prosecution. Cīrule said this could happen in January next year.