Bar bans Särgava from providing legal services in criminal cases
The Estonian Bar Association has banned attorney Viktor Särgava, a suspect in the criminal case of businessmen Hubert Hirv and Pavel Gammer, from providing legal services in criminal matters.
The board of the Estonian Bar Association heard Särgava and found that as he himself is currently a person subject to proceedings, he should not be communicating with investigative bodies on behalf of clients or handling criminal cases in court, reported business daily Äripäev (link in Estonian).
In order to avoid such situations, the board elected to partially suspend Särgava's operations and ban him from providing legal services in criminal matters for as long as he remains under criminal investigation.
The Central Criminal Police in early February arrested businessmen Hubert Hirv and Pavel Gammer and a number of other suspects accused of belonging to a criminal organization; Hirv and Gammer are accused of running the ring.
Allegations purportedly include episodes of tax evasion and embezzlement in amounts totaling in excess of at least €1 million, as well as an extortion attempt of over $3 million from one business owner.
Among those arrested by the Central Criminal Police were former colleague Aivar Orukas, a ten-year veteran of the forces anti-money laundering office, as well as former Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) officer Viljar Subka.
Särgava and Ahmed Ozdojev, an individual known in the Estonian criminal world, were also named among suspects in the case.
Seven of the ten individuals arrested were taken into custody for an initial period of up to two months.
Editor: Aili Vahtla