ERR News – The Estonian Central Crime Investigation Department searched the ruling Reform Party's offices on May 24, as an allegedly illegitimate funding scheme continues to unravel.
Reform Party Secretary General Martin Kukk said the authorities confiscated several computers.
“The Central Crime Investigation Department is conducting a search in connection with the criminal investigation that was launched a few days ago relating to information revealed to the public by [Reform Party member] Silver Meikar,” Kaarel Kuusk, a spokesman for the Police and Border Guard Board, told a reporter.
Earlier this week, former Parliament member Meikar alleged in a newspaper article that Kristen Michal, former Reform Party secretary general and current justice minister, had asked him to take part in a scheme to funnel funds into the party's budget. The justice minister has rejected the assertion.
The Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation the same day the article was published and questioned Meikar yesterday. A prosecutor later commented to the press that she had no reason to believe that Meikar was lying.
Several other party members have come forward with similar stories since Meikar came out with the admission, in which he said that he channeled roughly 7,600 euros in questionable donations to the ruling Reform Party in 2009 and 2010.
On May 24, returning from an unofficial European Council meeting in Brussels, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip spoke to the press before the news broke that the Reform Party's headquarters had been searched by police.
Ansip said Justice Minister Kristen Michal should not step down – even temporarily – in light of allegations that the minister had organized the funneling funds of an undeclared origin to the Reform Party's budget.
On May 23, a media commentator said that Michal should be temporarily suspended as a criminal investigation proceeds because the Public Prosecutor is overseen by the Justice Ministry, thus posing a conflict of interest.
But taking temporary leave would effectively mean accepting fault, Ansip said.
"At this stage the investigation is in process. I think that if the minister were to step down right now, he would be admitting guilt – which the minister has categorically denied,” Ansip said.
“[The recent confessions] indicate that donations from those with business interests, including concealed donations have, at least at some point in the past, been a reality. But I don't know what the current situation is – even in my own party,” Ansip said.
Meanwhile, pressure toward Reform Party has been building, even from its coalition partner IRL, as Speaker of Parliament Ene Ergma today called for schemers to exit politics.
