At the end of the pre-trial investigation, the Internal Security Bureau (IDB) has sent criminal prosecution to the prosecutor’s office against an official of the Kurzeme Regional Office of the State Police who has caused serious bodily harm to an individual during his detention, BNN learned from the office.
This possible criminal offense of an official of the Kurzeme Regional Administration of the State Police was committed in Saldus region, when, after a long pursuit and disobedience to the police requirements to stop the car, the driver of the vehicle was finally detained. During the detention, the driver suffered serious bodily injuries, which the said State Police official is suspected of having committed in accordance with Criminal Law Section 317, Paragraph three, explains IBD.
“Analyzing the criminal proceedings under investigation in the records of the Internal Security Bureau, it can be seen that a significant part of them is also such criminal offenses committed by state officials, which are related to exceeding official authority and violence,” says Valters Mūrnieks, the head of IDB.
“Last year, the Internal Security Bureau initiated 45 criminal proceedings for alleged acts of violence by public officials, and this year the trend will not change significantly.”
Mūrnieks also notes: “There may be various reasons for violent actions during the performance of official duties, and we call on the relevant state institutions to pay special attention not only to the continuous improvement of internal control systems, but also to the emotional state and stress reduction of their employees.”
After his detention, the suspected State Police officer was banned from performing his official duties, as well as other non-custodial security measures were applied.
In the first seven months of 2020, IDB conducted pre-trial investigations in 146 criminal proceedings. The number of newly initiated criminal proceedings by the Bureau during this period has reached 39 criminal proceedings, moreover, a significant part of them are related to serious and especially serious criminal offenses committed by state officials, the office says.
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