Security service and prosecution advise on how to check state-owned companies
Parliament's Anti-Corruption Select Committee met with KaPo (Internal Security Service) chief Arnold Sinisalu and Layly Perling, the Prosecutor General, to discuss the Port of Tallinn case and beefing up anti-corruption measures at state-owned businesses in general.
“The committee received a good overview of the Port of Tallinn case and the pursuing debate brought a number ideas on how to better keep an eye on state companies,” committee chairman Artur Talvik said, after the meeting on Monday.
Talvik said one idea is to improve background checks for heads of state-owned companies, and to strengthen control through ministries.
Perling said supervisory boards should have expanded powers, adding that audit committees could also help.
“State presence should be guaranteed at state-owned companies, but the proportion of politicians to sector and management specialists should weight towards the latter,” she said.
Sinisalu said internal audit divisions of state companies should be directly governed ministries. He added that the National Audit Office should have more means and possibilities to check up on large companies.
Talvik said the committee will meet National Audit Office officials next, and will then begin to draw up a package of measures to decrease the risk of corruption in state companies.
The two-man board of state-owned Port of Tallinn were arrested two weeks ago, accused of taking, giving and aiding corruption worth a reported four million euros.
Editor: J.M. Laats