On February 28, 2023, a Moldovan citizen, who tried to bribe a border guard, was detained at the Pāternieki Border Control Point.
On Tuesday, while conducting a border checks on persons and vehicles crossing the state border, border guards detected a Moldovan citizen leaving Latvia, who gave the border guards a bribe - a 10 US banknote, to cross on a priority basis the state border with a vehicle, bypassing the queue.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the men (born on 1959), for bribery pursuant to Section 323(1) of the Criminal Law. However, a fine of EUR 6200 was imposed on the man, who committed the criminal offence, in accordance with the order of the Prosecutor of the South Latgale Prosecution Office.
Bribery qualifies as a serious crime punishable in accordance with the Latvian Criminal Law by the deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years, or temporary deprivation of liberty, or community service, or a fine in an amount of ten up to two thousand minimum salaries set by the Republic of Latvia.