Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise agreed with the Prosecutor's Office's proposal. She gave consent to lift Tõnis Mölder's parliamentary immunity and continue criminal proceedings against him. Mölder said the Chancellor of Justice's decision was not surprising. He added that the decision complies with the law. However, Mölder has objections to the Prosecutor's Office's application. He said the application contains much one-sided information and does not reflect significant errors.
Mölder also criticized the prolongation of the proceedings. He said after four years and five prosecutors, the situation is bad. According to him, it takes years to defend one's rights in Estonia's court system. Mölder confirmed he has done nothing wrong. He said he has followed laws in parliament.
Mölder clarified that the suspicion is that he acted as a Riigikogu member to obtain personal benefit. The suspicion does not refer to bribery. He said the media has written about this incorrectly.
Mölder said the presumption of innocence should apply in Estonia. He added that the Prosecutor's Office has turned criminal proceedings into the main punishment. He believed the final outcome in court is not important.
It is currently unknown when the Riigikogu will discuss lifting Mölder's immunity. Mölder said he will likely use his mandate until the end of the Riigikogu's term. He will not run in the next elections.
Mölder has been a member of the Center Party and Isamaa. Currently, he is non-aligned. He said politics changes quickly. He does not rule out the possibility of joining a party.
The Prosecutor's Office suspects Mölder proposed adding €25,000 in operational support to the state budget for NGO Kõo Jahiselts. He made an agreement with the association to receive at least €10,000 for himself.
The Prosecutor's Office also suspects Mölder ordered 1,000 postcards with Center Party symbols. He submitted an invoice to the Riigikogu for reimbursement. He knew these were election campaign materials not eligible for reimbursement.