Security service gives Parliament committee overview of Port of Tallinn case
Head of the Internal Security Service (ISS) Arnold Sinisalu gave the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee an overview of the Port of Tallinn corruption case, which last week saw the arrest of the state-owned company's CEO and a second board member.
“The committee received enough relevant information about the background of the high-profile case and of the security service's actions,” committee chairman Ken-Marti Vaher said.
ISS arrested the company's CEO Ain Kaljurand and board member Allan Kiil a week ago, accusing Kaljurand of taking bribes in the hundreds of thousands and Kiil in millions of euros.
According to Postimees, that figure is around four million euros and the scheme was that Kiil would be allowed to make money off of any activity where the port purchased anything from transit to construction, with the knowledge, an cut, of Kaljurand.
The allegations date back to 2009, but, according to the authorities, also include the purchase of two new ferries for the company as part of a tender it won last year to provide domestic ferry services between Estonia's largest islands.
The company's state-appointed supervisory board claims it knew nothing about the case, and has now resigned. Economy Minister Kristen Michal said a new supervisory board will be in place this month and a new CEO soon after. A outside lawyer and the company's CFO are currently in charge of the management board.
The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee exercises supervision over security and surveillance agencies. It has six members, one from each Parliament party.
Editor: J.M. Laats