As Port of Tallinn bribery suspicion surfaced, economy minister Kristen Michal (Reform) appointed law office Sorainen partner Carri Ginter to be the port’s board member.
The job offered was big but well paid as the task proved lengthy and the auditing dragged on for half a year with Sorainen ending up earning close to €60,000. To that, add board member pay for Mr Ginter at €48,800.
At August 27 last year, for about three weeks, as Mr Ginter was appointed into office, then chairman of Port of Tallinn Remo Holsmer (Reform) was the layer’s boss.
On September 4, Postimees wrote that then council members Kalev Lillo (reform) and Remo Holsmer may be linked to suspicious requests for money.
Angered, Mr Holsmer sued Postimees. Lo and behold, Mr Ginter’s law office Sorainen represented Mr Holsmer – just the lawyers were different.
As observed by the business daily Äripäev, this was weird, as «Ginter has also defended Holsmer over social media. Whose interests is Ginter representing – Holsmer’s, Reform Party’s, Port of Tallinn’s or someone else, let it be on his own conscience.»
On June 17 this year, Postimees was granted victory at court and Mr Holsmer had to cover the costs. Now, documents in possession of the newspaper reveal that then chairman of the Port may have gotten a discount from Sorainen.