Prosecutor seeks suspended term for ex-chief of Estonian Road Administration

Photo: Peeter Langovits

The public prosecutor in charge of the case of Tamur Tsäkko, former head of the Estonian Road Administration, on Tuesday sought a suspended jail sentence for Tsäkko for violation of the procedure of carrying out public procurement tenders and abuse of trust.

According to Public Prosecutor Steven-Hristo Evestus, Tsäkko's guilt has been proven and the court should give him a conditional sentence of one-and-a-half years in jail with three years of probation.

The prosecutor said that in punishing Tsäkko the court should take into account that the accused has left public service, has no criminal record, and his personal character does not suggest the possibility of his committing further offenses.

"There are no mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Yet it has to be taken into account that the offenses listed in the charges were committed in connection with one's occupying a position in public service and the performance of concrete work duties as the head of a state agency, which is why punishment with imprisonment is justified in the interest of protection of public order," Evestus said, adding however that the punishment should be a suspended one.

Even though no damages have been claimed from Tsäkko, the prosecutor found that Tsäkko should pay the costs of a technical expert evaluation in the amount of 2,265.60 euros and compensation levies of 480 euros accompanying a guilty verdict.

Tsäkko's defense attorney Toomas Pikamäe wanted his client to be indicted. The court is due to announce the judgment on May 27.

Tsakko pleaded not guilty in the trial that started in mid-April.

The Estonian Public Prosecutor's Office at the end of September 2012 brought charges against the former head of the Road Administration of violation of the procedure of carrying out public procurement tenders and abuse of trust due to changing the terms of the tender concerning temporary traffic organization.

Tsäkko is accused of permitting the contractor that built the Loo-Maardu road section to build a temporary road consisting of one lane in each direction with reinforced curbs instead of two plus two lanes as set out in the trender documents.

As giving permission to that was not in line with the law and because of that the builder was paid a sum 33,668 euros bigger than the actual cost of the work, Tsäkko caused large material damage to the state.

Besides, Tsäkko has been charged with violation of public procurement requirements in another manner by which substantial material damage was caused.