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On the basis of the audit findings of the State Audit Office (SAO), the Office of Prevention and Anti-Corruption (KNAB) checks various possible irregularities in several municipalities including donations received and the calculation of the remuneration of the members.
The KNAB confirmed to LETA that inspections had been initiated for possible violation of the restrictions imposed by the law on the prevention of conflicts of interest in the activities of public officials.
As the tests are still in progress, the KNAB comments are not currently available for their progress, neither for the people involved nor for the municipalities.
The SAO LETA agency discovered that, according to the audit on local government budgets, 25 municipalities in 2016 and 2017 had accepted or requested donations without obtaining permission from a manager or from a local authority. a higher council. Similarly, 20 municipalities have accepted donations of at least EUR 152,004 from traders and other persons who have already made transactions and are not considered as uninvolved third parties.
In turn, four municipalities received donations from unidentifiable people in the amount of at least 2,810 euros.
The SAO also found that the municipality of Zilupe, referring to the necessary donation request made by one person, decided to plan the local government's budget for donations, thus making an illegal donation of 500 euros for the publication of the book.
However, in 2016 and 2017, the municipality of the city of Jelgava received donations amounting to 248,850 euros from various legal entities, in accordance with donation agreements concluded. The donation contracts indicated that the donation had been made for third-party purposes. After receiving the donation, the municipality transferred them to the beneficiaries indicated in the contracts for a minimum amount of 248,850 euros, in violation of the restrictions imposed by the laws and regulations.
At the same time, in 2016 and 2017, the municipality of the city of Liepaja received from the merchant donations amounting to 64,000 euros, in accordance with donation agreements concluded. The donation agreements stipulated that donations had been made to support the development of the Liepaja hockey mastery and to serve the development of hockey. After receiving a donation of 64,000 euros, the municipality periodically made transfers to the Liepāja hockey club, thus violating the restrictions imposed on the municipality.
The SAO also found that any member of the Ikšķile municipality voted in favor of granting municipal funding to an badociation in which he held the position of board member. administration and received remuneration. In turn, the Zilupe County Municipality gave the company a free use space, although no corresponding decision of the city council was pbaded and the company did not saw granting the status of nonprofit organization.
At the same time, a member of the Rucava County Municipality voted in favor of the transfer of real estate for free use to a foundation that holds a paid position as an auxiliary worker. By transferring the property for free use, the municipality had not calculated the property tax at the time of the audit, generating at least 3593 euros of income.
Similarly, by signing a loan agreement, the head of the Rucava County Municipality agency transferred the premises to the company for free use, without corresponding decision of the board, while being a member of the board of directors from the Association. In 2015, the head of the institution also entered into a lease agreement with the company in which he held a paid position, in violation of legal restrictions.
When badyzing the information obtained during the audit on MPs who do not hold a paid position on the board, the SAO discovered that in a number of local governments, a monthly remuneration greater than that permitted by the Compensation Act was calculated. All these violations occurred in 2017.
Thus, for example, the monthly remuneration of the deputies of the municipality of Grobiņa was calculated for a total amount of EUR 18,265 higher than that authorized by the law on remuneration in the municipality of Iecava – for a total amount of EUR 6066, in the municipality of Ikšķile – from 23,501 EUR – in the municipality of Jelgava – for 43,957 euros, in the municipality of Ogre – from 8578 euros, for the municipality of Olaine – from 20,006 euros, for the municipality Ventspils – 43,809 euros, but in the municipality of Jurmala, the remuneration is calculated on an amount of 59,528 euros higher than that authorized by law. .
Like the Riga City Council, setting an hourly rate higher than that allowed by the Compensation Act and multiplying it by the number of hours worked, the remuneration paid to members in 2017 is calculated on a total of EUR 124 951 higher than that authorized by law.
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