Tallinn Adviser and Politician Imprisoned for Bribery
A former adviser to the Tallinn government and a long-serving Centre Party faction leader in City Council were remanded to prison immediately after sentencing in a corruption case today.
Ivo Parbus, ex-adviser to Deputy Mayor Taavi Aas, was sentenced to three years in prison, less six months already served, for taking bribes repeatedly in exchange for performing services.
For instance, Parbus received about 1,600 euros in travel agency gift certificates to smooth the way in the City Planning Department for thematic plans related to high-rise buildings and site papers for a development in the Tondi area. He received over 20,000 euros in bribes from another developer, a case where according to the evidence the account number was passed to the company by Priit Toobal, secretary general of the Centre Party.
According to the accusation, the total amount in bribes was over 60,000 euros.
A key co-defendant was Elmar Sepp of the Jüri Vilms Foundation, who arranged the bribe. Sepp, a long-time Centre faction chair in City Council and publisher of the party newspaper Kesknädal, was sentenced to two years and six months of real prison time.
Five other defendants were also sentenced, to partially suspended sentences, for their role in offering the bribes. The companies were also found guilty and fined amounts ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 euros.
Kristopher Rikken