Court to hold preliminary hearing in Savisaar case in February
Harju County Court has scheduled the preliminary hearing for the criminal case involving former longtime chairman of the Center Party and suspended mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar and involved businessmen for Feb. 16.
During the preliminary hearing, the court will resolve any requests and determine the schedule of hearings. The criminal case will be heard by Judge Anne Rebane.
The State Prosecutor’s Office has accused Savisaar of using Tallinn city budget funds for personal and Center Party interests, i.e. misappropriation on a large scale, both as an elected official and in a group, as well as four episodes of accepting bribes, money-laundering and the acceptance of prohibited donations to the Center Party on a large scale. The Center Party likewise stands accused as a legal entity.
Accused of bribing Savisaar are businessmen Aivar Tuulberg, Alexander Kofkin, Hillar Teder and Vello Kunman. Tallinn city council chairman Kalev Kallo is accused of aiding bribery and the accepting of bribes; ex-politician Villu Reiljan is accused of mediating bribery; Priit Kutser is accused of aiding misappropriation [of funds].
The Office of the Prosecutor called off the criminal investigations of seven officials due to the absence of the grounds thereof, as the officials’ actions were not motivated by the desire to appropriate city property for a political party or related individuals.
Editor: Aili Vahtla