Criminal case of Estonia's underworld authorities reaches court

Photo: Erakogu

Criminal case of Assar Paulus, alleged head of an organized crime group, has been sent to the court by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The criminal case accuses three men, including Paulus, of heading a criminal organization, and 18 men and one woman for belonging to a crimal group.

A total of 26 people and two companies are being charged. According to charges Paulus, 52, headed a criminal group as of the beginning of 2006. The criminal group was engaged in drug crimes, extortions and economic crimes.

According to charges Paulus gave commands in the criminal group for organizing and committing crimes as well as distributing monetary gains.

According to Public Prosecutor Kati Reitsak it was a very extensive and persistent criminal group.

Andres, 53, and Rainar, 47, are being accused of human trafficking. According to data obtained in the course of a pre-trial investigation they detained a man and forced him to work for them, while constantly beating and mocking him. If court should find them guilty, they could be facing up to 15 years in prison.

Assar, Andres and Peep, 51, are being accused of heading a criminal group and could be facing a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

In addition, 19 people are being accused of belonging to a criminal group and they could be facing up to 12 years in prison.

Two companies are also being accused of belonging to a criminal group -- OU Capital Inkasso and OU Barbarossa Invest.

Other charges include extortion, money laundering, unlawful handling of firearms, forging of documents, tax evasion and giving false testimonies.

Paulus became an authority in the Estonian underworld after the assassination of Kalev Kurg, the leader of a criminal group, in the fall of 2005. Last time he had problems with the police was in 2006 when he was suspected of arson attacks against media mogul Hans H. Luik. Paulus wasn't charged.