Latvia: Builders raided in large-scale cartel probe

Latvia’s anti-graft police and competition authority carried out raids in several major construction companies in a large-scale cartel and corruption investigation, reportedXinhua.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) announced that it was searching offices of construction companies and state officials in a probe that was started last year. At least ten big Latvian construction companies are suspected of agreeing on prices in state procurements and bribing state officials, while the state officials are suspected of accepting bribes and abusing their power, KNAB said in a statement.

The bribes ranged between €25,000 (US$27,400) to several hundred thousand euros and the crimes took place between early 2015 and mid-2018, according to KNAB.

The Competition Council said in a statement that it is conducting raids in 10 construction companies that are suspected of running cartels and fixing prices in public and private procurements.

Full Content: Xinhuanet, Competition Council of the Republic of Latvia

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