Fingerprints denied, detectives dismissed

Photo: SCANPIX

Despite Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) sending May 22nd rector election ballot papers to Estonian Forensic Science Institute for expert assessment, four members of its board of governors refused to submit fingerprints. Expert assessment is excluded without agreement of all members.

On June 4th Heiti Hääl, Rainer Kattel, Margus Lopp and Mart Saarma sent the board of governors a letter to explain why they do not think an expert assessment is the right thing to do.

«We find that the «expert assessment» as suggested by chairman of the board of governors is outside of his competence and unsuitable for the solving of the given issue.  Chairman of TUT board of governors has no competency to carry out, arrange or appoint an expert assessment, to say nothing about sending anybody to submit fingerprints or saliva samples etc to that end,» wrote the quartet.

Also, they find an «expert assessment» of such sort may not solve the issue at hand – neither legally nor essentially. «Our sincere stand is that, with TUT rector elections, not some procedural tricks should determine the outcome, rather the actual intent of TUT board of governors.»

Responding to that, chairman of the board of governors Sandor Liive wrote to TUT council yesterday morning to admit that when sending the ballot papers for forensic expert assessment he had only bad procedures to choose from. The board of governors, he said, was just trying to do its best in a situation where the university was facing accusations with criminal shades to them.

«I have often been asked why the board of governors will not put an end to this criminal series and arrange a repeat vote. We cannot do that as the board of governors has already decided, it is legitimate and valid,» noted Mr Liive.