Governor of Central Tallinn found guilty also in circuit court

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

The Tallinn circuit court on Tuesday left unchanged the verdict of the Harju county court according to which governor of the borough of Central Tallinn, Alar Naame, was found guilty of embezzlement.

The circuit court did not satisfy the appeal on Naame's defense attorney and left the previous court's decision in force.

The court's decision can be contested in the Supreme Court in 30 days.

The Harju county court at the end of June found Naame, a member of the Center Party, guilty of embezzlement and handed down a pecuniary punishment. According to the court Naame's guilt has been proven and he has to pay a pecuniary punishment of 200 daily rates which in his case means 6,300 euros.

The prosecutor had previously asked for the same punishment for Naame, while the defense wanted him to be acquitted. The parties to the proceeding can file an appeal in the Tallinn circuit court.

According to the statement of charges Naame staged two concerts at the cultural center of the southern border town Valga in January and February last year that were free for the audience and were aimed at enticing voters to vote for Naame in the Riigikogu elections of 2015.

Naame ran in the general elections as candidate for the Valga, Voru and Polva counties.

He is accused of arranging for the payment of the bills related to the two events from the budget of the borough of Central Tallinn. According to the statement of charges the bills for the rent of premises, transport, catering services, music and rent of equipment were paid from the budget of Central Tallinn.

Valga residents were invited to the concert with fliers presenting Naame as candidate for parliament, which featured symbols of the Center Party and listed the candidate's pre-election promises.

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Security Service (ISS) and supervised by the Public Prosecutor's Office.