Prosecutors close Sven Pertens case and drop bribery suspicion

Estonia’s prosecution service has closed the case against Sven Pertens, finding no crime in the suspicion that he took a bribe in the private sector, ERR reported. Proceedings over other allegations were ended by agreement on expediency grounds, and the case will not go to court.

Pertens was also suspected of attempted breach of trust, embezzlement and aiding the forgery of a document. He denied all the allegations. The prosecution service ended proceedings over those matters by agreement with Pertens on expediency grounds.

Pertens said the combined financial obligations imposed on him and his company total €18,000. He said he agreed to the resolution to avoid the legal costs and personal toll of a potentially lengthy court case.

He said the investigation lasted three and a half years and included 10 months of surveillance before his detention in January 2025. Pertens said the investigation began after an anonymous tip that contained no specific facts about his conduct.

His lawyers, Oliver Näär and Norman Aas, said they were generally satisfied with the outcome, particularly the decision to end the bribery proceedings because the suspicion was unfounded.