News Briefs: Corruption and Mismanagement Edition
The National Audit Office has found that two institutions in the Culture Ministry's jurisdiction conducted illegal transactions with related parties.
NO99 contracted for production services with a company where the theater's creative director was a management board member, and the Kumu Art Museum bought over 5,000 euros worth of items from a company where the exhibition department head is in the management, reported Postimees. Culture Minister Rein Lang told the Audit Office in a response that he was deliberating whether to involve the police in the matter.
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Streamlining corruption legislation, a bill will do away with the distinction between gratuities and bribes, said Eesti Päevaleht. The large Penal Code amendment package drafted by the Justice Ministry will make the work of police officers and prosecutors easier, as they will no longer need to prove whether the action for which the bribe was paid was legal or illegal, said Justice Minister Hanno Pevkur.
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Former head of the Puppet Theater Meelis Pai has become an adviser to Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar, uudised.err.ee reported. Pai, who joined the Center Party recently, will be in charge of advising city leaders on cultural matters and coordinating activities, including citywide events and hosting out-of-town performers. Savisaar issued a statement praising Pai's experiencee and saying his talent should not be wasted. Pai resigned in April over a number of financial and intellectual property problems.