Crime suspicion filed against police corruption crimes officer
An official of the East division of the corruption crimes office of the Central Criminal Police of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board is suspected of corruption. A private individual is also involved.
According to the suspicion, between 2016-2020, the official agreed to accept benefits from the private person, the Office of the Prosecutor General said. In exchange for the benefits, the police official used their job position and in their professional activity favored the private person who provided them with the benefits.
This is a preliminary suspicion and as its content and the size of the benefit may change during the criminal proceedings, the prosecutor's office has not publishing the details of the proceedings yet.
Public prosecutor Sigrid Nurm said: "The fact that an official whose task is to prevent and suppress corruption offenses is accused of committing a corruption crime adds seriousness to the criminal case. Officials must always obey the law and set an example for others in the performance of their duties and in their private lives."
The director general of the Central Criminal Police, Aivar Alavere, said the case is extremely unfortunate, as the Central Criminal Police have an important role to play in the fight against corruption and officials must set an example in their community.
"We need to show through our actions and ongoing procedures that corruption has no place in society. The commitment of every investigator is important for this and it is clear that we will not achieve this goal if we work against ourselves. The official realized that it was not possible for them to continue as a police officer and applied for resignation and has been dismissed," Alavere said.
The prosecutor's office is currently not planning to apply for the suspects to be taken into custody.
The proceedings are being carried out by the internal audit office of the Police and Border Guard Board under the leadership of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
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Editor: Helen Wright