Potential Link to Tartu Embezzlement Case Emerges
A Tartu city audit of education department and school expenses has reportedly found a 150,000 euro hole that could be linked to an ongoing embezzlement case.
According to an investigation by a daily newspaper, the audit, which goes back to 2004, traces money for suspiciously expensive seminars that may not have even happened, as well as generous bank transfers to hotels and spas. The document was sent to the prosecutor, but has been kept hidden from the public, Postimees reported.
In March, the national security agency KAPO arrested Tartu's education director Boris Goldman and head financial specialist Irina Aab on the suspicion that the two had been involved in embezzling city money since 2008. Both officials resigned two days later.
In a vote of no confidence in May, the Tartu City Council fired Deputy Mayor Karin Jaanson, who oversaw the city's financial affairs. Coalition partners Reform Party and IRL also called for no-confidence votes against the head of the city's resources department, Urbo Vaarmann, and the head of the culture commission, Natalja Trošina, both of whom are Centre Party members. Their cases will be considered on June 2.
Tartu Deputy Mayor Jüri Sasi, in charge of education and culture, handed in a letter of resignation in early May after the two were charged. Mayor Urmas Kruuse has said that there is still too little information for him to decide whether to resign himself.
Ott Tammik