RIGA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A member of the Latvian parliament and two other persons were arrested on Wednesday as part of a criminal investigation into an illegal party financing scheme, local media reported.
Operatives of the Latvian Corruption Prevention Bureau arrived at the parliament house in the morning, asking lawmakers' permission to detain and search MP Artuss Kaimins on suspicion of using an illicit scheme to finance his KPV LV party.
The anti-corruption watchdog's request was promptly granted, and Kaimins left the parliament house flanked by the anti-corruption bureau's officers.
Shortly afterwards, the Corruption Prevention Bureau released a statement saying that a total of three arrests have been made in connection with the party financing probe.
Latvian public television reported that the premises of KPV LV board member Atis Zakatistovs and entrepreneur Viesturs Tamuzs were also being raided as part of the investigation.
The Corruption Prevention Bureau declined to provide more detailed information in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The anti-corruption watchdog started probing Kaimins for receiving illicit financing for his party in February 2017 when Ilmars Poikans, an IT researcher at the University of Latvia and high-profile whistleblower, quit KPV LV and filed a statement against Kaimins.
Media reports suggest that businessman Tamuzs had been illegally sponsoring the Kaimins-led party through Zakatistovs who had been hired by one of Tamuzs' companies as an adviser but never did any work there. His salary was handed over to Kaimins who spent it on his party and his personal needs.