Money laundering tracks lead to former policemen and politicians

Illustration: Pm

«Behind this, there stands a bunch of politicians, business circles and people linked to organised crime,» says Security Police chief Raivo Aeg. At his right sits Central Criminal Police head Raigo Haabu, at the left: the KaPo deputy director Eerik Heldna. Both nod along. It feels like the top brass of Estonia’s law enforcement has asked Postimees to drop by. Mr Aeg reveals a lengthy, dirty and twisty story – with many parts unsolved or shrouded as state secrets.

On the wall of the Tallinn office of Central Criminal Police criminal income bureau chief Krista Aas, there hangs a large scheme, put together by numerous A4 paper sheets. At the pinnacle of the pyramid, company name Ateka Resource is written, in small letters. From there, hundreds of strings lead to companies next in line, with names and sums of money added, linking them to Ateka Resource. Lion’s share of the companies is from Russia, some are Latvian.

«This is just a part of the picture,» says Ms Aas, pointing at the map. And adds, underlining the massiveness of the issue: «After we closed Ateka Resource down, carrying of cash to Russia has decreased by five times, according to statistics.»

Simplified, Ateka Resource acted in Estonia as follows: money was transferred to their Tallinn office from Russia and Latvia; they converted it into dollars or euros, took it out as cash; and the Ateka Resource couriers carried it back to Russia in bags and suitcases. In the meantime, the money was also spinned, transferred from one account to another, new companies were created, straw men sought, traces muddied. The core of the business, however, remained the same: a transfer to Estonia, cash back to Russia. At the start of this year, investigations were completed, with charges brought to Ateka Resource and four private persons (Anton Ger, Sergei Kirillov, Sergei Golubajev, Andrus Koch). Court hearings on the largest money laundering case in Estonian history start in the autumn. According to the accusation, €64m were laundered in Estonia – this is the proven turnover, say investigators, as all was not traced down anyhow. About €4m were arrested.

Money laundering is highly profitable. The sums are huge and Ateka Resource is not the only one spinning money in Estonia. Income is not restricted to the launderers, ample opportunity is presented to other elements skilled and experienced at acting in the dark. For instance: when money was transferred from Russia to Estonia and promptly arrested due to suspected laundering, its owners in Russia (businessmen, crooks or both) panicked – what do we do now?

«These people in Russia didn’t know the peculiarities of Estonian legislation,» explains the Central Criminal Police chief Raigo Haabu. «Namely, over here it is needed to prove the predicate offence i.e. that the money has been acquired illegally.»

Proof must be provided within two months, and in practice it is almost never managed. And thus, after the two months have passed, the accounts are released from arrest – in nine cases of ten. As the guys in Russia do not know Estonian legislation, fraudsters from Estonia show up and say: «You know what: your money got stuck. Give us 20 per cent. With it, we’ll bribe Estonian judges, prosecutors and Financial Intelligence Unit employees, and in two months your money will be free again.»

In reality, they mostly do nothing these two months (as they know that the money, in all probability, will be released anyway), basically selling air.

Postimees is prompted that one such Estonian businessman was Veiko Kulla. Before he was caught, the corrupt corruption investigator Indrek Põderattempted to enter the niche. And the waters were also being tested by former police prefect Aivar Otsalt.