Enough base for a criminal matter
26.10.2009, 09:00Ain Seppik, member of so-called Security Police’s committee in the Parliament said that starting a criminal matter to verify if the claims in Friday’s Äripäev were truth is necessary. TV3 News reported that the prosecution considers starting a criminal matter, Äripäev writes.
The case concerns election campaings in spring 2007 that a small Pärnu-based advertising agency Droom carried out for two Reform Party MPs Jaanus Rahumägi and Robert Antropov. The men say they're being blackmailed, while the documents, obtained by Äripäev, claim that they have received illegal political funding.
Seppik said that starting a criminal case is necessary, since Rahumägi controls the activities of Security Police and other institutions, which have access to state secrets, due to his position.
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“That’s why, if it’s true (blackmailing – edit) it is also important to our national security,” Seppik, member of Centre Party said.
“Yesterday evening (Thursday evening – edit) I had a chat with one high official from the Security Police and I said that now must be made clear if such thing really took place,” Seppik said, adding that he’s talking as a former head of police, Minister of Interior and current member of Security Police’s committee.
Jüri Pihl, member of Social Democratic Party and former head of Security Police said that it would have been easy for Jaanus Rahumägi to report of blackmailing as he is the head of Security Police’s committee.
Pihl said it is strange Rahumägi didn’t do that, but talked of blackmailing on the pages of Äripäev instead.
Pihl said that he would turn into police or prosecution is somebody tried to commit a crime against him.
Marek Strandberg, deputy chairperson of the Security Police committee said that fear of losing political support or votes may have kept politicians from turning to the police.
Member of the committee, Kalvi Kõva said that the members of this committee should be one of the most honest people in the country, which is why this affair raises questions.
Antropov, who has been in leading positions in the police, and Rahumägi have both fought against blackmailing.
“Great man, worked in such positions, but goes along with blackmailing and indirectly promotes crimes. Hello! I get a question in which country do we live? It seems rather to be more like hiding spending and election campaign money,” Kõva said.
Reform Party has said to news agency Delfi that for the party the accusations against Jaanus Rahumägi and Robert Antropov are normal private dispute.
“Jaanus Rahumägi and Robert Antropov have repeatedly informed of that story which libels them. As we also know, then Rahumägi and Antropov have repeatedly been told that if they don’t do what is wanted, then probably there’s a journalist who makes story as needed. We guess that Äripäev today’s journalistic construction is that story,” Silver Pukk, Reform Party’s spokesperson said.
On Friday Äripäev asked Pukk that who did Rahumägi and Antropov inform of that case and what time the party was notified. Reform Party did not answer.
On Thursday Andrus Ansip, PM and head of Reform Party said at the government’s press conference on Thursday that he isn’t informed of the case.