Lausing says black money given by Simson

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

According to former Centre Party cadre Tarmo Lausing, 350 000 kroons of unknown origin were handed to him by current deputy chairman Kadri Simson.

While Ms Simson denied giving the money and claimed that, in his recent interview on illegal party financing, Tarmo Lausing was not having her in mind, a audio recording of the said interview has been published by Eesti Ekspress, with Lausing referring to the very Kadri Simson.

Yesterday, an audio recording was published by Eesti Ekspress of the interview given two weeks ago, with journalist Dannar Leitmaa and Mr Lausing talking about party financing. To the question posed by journalist, whether the money was given by Priit Toobal or Kadri Must, Mr Lausing replied: «The latter.»

«I am sorry to do that, but yes, I will have to confirm this – that’s the way it is,» is how Mr Lausing answered to Postimees yesterday, asked if he had Ms Simson in mind while referring to a high ranking party and state official who gave him the money. Asked whence the willingness to disclose the name of the giver, Mr Lausing said the name was already out anyhow.

In an interview published this Saturday, Kadri Simson was also mentioned by Henri Kaselo, Centre Party board member in 2005–2007 and a former leader of the party’s youth organisation. Mr Kaselo told Eesti Päevaleht [the daily] that on threshold of 2009 local elections Ms Simson gave him about 20,000 kroons in cash for operational expenditure of Tartu County departments.

Yesterday, Ms Simson told Postimees that surely Tarmo Lausing did not mean her, in his statements. «When Tarmo Lausing gave his first interview, a couple of weeks ago, he was not having me in mind. Why he is now repeating the words of his friend Henri Kaselo that he did mean me... I do not understand that. The facts spoken about these two young men are not top precision,» said Ms Simson.

Ms Simson pointed out that in his interview published on Saturday, former Centre Party member Henri Kaselo said she had done something as secretary general, in 2009; however, she stopped working as secretary general in 2007, so the man has problems remembering.

As told Reporter [the TV channel] by Mr Lausing, yesterday, money of unknown origin is sure to still be flowing into Centre Party coffers. «Open this year’s donations and look at the amounts €1,000, €2,000 or €3,000. Do people personally give such money to the party? The answer is no. This is all laundered money. Donations show this involves high ranking Centre Party cadres, Riigikogu members etc. The money they are donating is not their own,» said Mr Lausing.

As pointed out by Mr Lausing, everything is happening under orders by party chairman  Edgar Savisaar. «Edgar himself gives the orders, if something has to be done. The dirty work will be done by somebody else,» Mr Lausing told Reporter.

In his answers yesterday, to Estonian Public Broadcasting, party chairman Edgar Savisaar claimed with unwavering conviction that no secret financing has ever taken place. «Centre Party has been so inspected by all kinds of law enforcement authorities, the Kapo [Security police – edit] and the Kripo [Central Criminal Police – edit] of yours and what not, that in our case this may be claimed with full confidence,» answered Mr Savisaar.

The Centre Party money scandal started last week as Mr Lausing, the party’s former youth organisation leader, said in an interview given to  Eesti Ekspress that a fellow party cadre gave him 250,000 kroons to which he was to find donators. «The money was given me during the period following my term as youth organisation head. This has been done repeatedly,» said he. Mr Lausing led the Centre Party youth organisation in 2003–2005.

As announced by Public Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday, criminal proceedings will not be launched to investigate claims by Mr Lausing, the alleged crime dating back over five years and having therefore expired.