Sworn lawyer charged with fraud over 2.7 tonnes of asbestos slate
Prosecutors have sent a criminal case against a sworn advocate to the Zemgale District Court, accusing him of obtaining free disposal of asbestos slate by deceit. Prosecutors say the Dobele municipality suffered a loss of 1,197 euros.
/nginx/o/2023/08/13/15520024t1h2dd0.jpg)
Latvian prosecutors have referred a criminal case to the Zemgale District Court in which a sworn advocate, a practising lawyer with formal advocate status, is charged with fraud. The prosecutor's office informed the news agency LETA about the referral.
The accusation
According to the prosecution, the advocate used deceit to gain the right to hand over 2,720 kilograms of asbestos-containing roofing slate sheets free of charge. Such material is hazardous waste, so disposing of it normally involves costs.
As a result, prosecutors say, the Dobele municipality suffered a financial loss of 1,197 euros.
What happens next
The case is now with the Zemgale District Court, which must assess whether the charge is well founded. A charge is not proof of guilt: until a court ruling, a person is presumed innocent. The source does not name the advocate, give a hearing date or provide other details of the case.
