Presidential Corruption Scandal Persists

Latvia's Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) is maintaining pressure on recently elected President Valdis Zatlers by calling upon both doctors and patients to not engage in under-the-table payments. Former orthopaedic surgeon Zatlers admitted taking bribes in "envelopes" from his patients, but denies demanding money. However, he admits not paying income tax on the backhanders. BMI believes that prosecution of the president is unlikely given ubiquity of the practice and the murky nature of Latvian corruption laws.

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