The Central Criminal Police investigated whether the City of Tallinn violated procurement rules in the purchase of outdoor benches.
An internal audit found that officials did not have sufficient information about the contracts. The procurement descriptions were based on specific companies' products.
The police concluded the investigation in December and sent the materials to the Prosecutor's Office. The Prosecutor's Office decided to terminate the proceedings because no crime was proven.
Prosecutor Kaido Tuulemäe said that although the rules were violated, there was no evidence of an intention to favor. This, however, is a crucial element of the crime.
He added that there were inaccuracies in the procurement process. Instructions and roles were not always clear. This could have led to errors that cannot be rectified.
The City of Tallinn purchased furniture (e.g., benches and trash bins) last year for 5.6 million euros. However, according to the internal audit, the procurement conditions were set in such a way that other companies could not compete.