(Latvian Public Broadcasting)
One of the highest-profile criminal cases of recent years came to a dramatic conclusion January 21 with the acquital of former Latvian railways chief Uģis Magonis and Estonian businessman Oleg Ossinovski on bribery charges, Latvian Radio reported.
In 2015, the then head of Latvian railways (Latvijas dzelzceļš) Magonis was detained by the anti-graft Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau on suspicion of bribery.
According to the accusation, Estonian millionaire Ossinovski allegedly handed over almost half a million euros to Magonis in connection with the purchase of old diesel locomotives from the Osinovsky-owned company Skinest Rail.
Magonis, in his defense, told the court that he had received the money from Ossinovski not as a bribe or kickback, but as a reward for lobbying on behalf of his Estonian associate to the management of Russian Railways in a private capacity, even though he was chairman of Latvia's state-owned railway company at the time.