PERH ex-leaders plead not guilty in bribery case
The trial began in Harju County Court on Monday in a case involving North Estonia Medical Centre (PERH) ex-board chairman Tõnis Allik, catering chief Anu Vähi and IT director Marko Kilk.
Allik, Vähi, Kilk, the legal entity and catering service provider P. Dussmann Eesti OÜ as well as its chief executive Anella Stimmer went to trial on charges brought by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
None of the defendants pled guilty to the charges brought against them, court spokesperson Kristina Ots told ERR.
According to the charges, Allik, the former chairman of the board at PERH, repeatedly accepted bribes in return for guaranteeing over a period of years that the company also accused in the case would remain the hospital's food service provider.
According to the charges, the hospital on multiple occasions concluded contracts with the accused company following public procurements. In return, Allik was repeatedly able to attend Oktoberfest in Germany at the catering company's expense.
Vähi, PERH's catering chief, is charged with accepting bribes, having acted in the interests of the accused company in ensuring its successful participation in the hospital's catering services procurement.
In addition, the Prosecutor's Office has accused Allik and Kilk in fraud and embezzlement. According to the charges brought against them, in addition to business trips abroad, the two men went on various vacations together with family members at the expense and without the knowledge of the business responsible for information systems development at PERH.
Ex-hospital chief: 'I have not broken any laws'
Allik does not feel he is guilty, however. "I remain of the opinion and view that I have not at all harmed the interests of the hospital," he has told ETV news broadcast "Aktuaalne kaamera." "I have not broken any laws, but some things that were done, I would do differently today."
He told ERR that he has not provided any testimony during the criminal investigation, however he intends to testify in court.
"I still do not see myself as guilty in a single episode," Allik confirmed.
The criminal investigation was led by the Office of the Prosecutor General and conducted by the Corruption Crimes Bureau of the Central Criminal Police.
Editor: Aili Vahtla