The Prosecutor's Office is charging Eerik Heldna, Elmar Vaher, and Aivar Alavere. They claim that their actions were illegal. According to the Prosecutor's Office, a special pension was fraudulently obtained from the state.
In 2019, Heldna agreed with Vaher that Heldna would be enlisted in the police service. On the same day, he was sent back to his former position. According to the law, to receive a special pension, one had to work in the police for at least 25 years. Heldna served in the police for nearly 21 years. Therefore, he had to work for four more years in the police.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, none of them actually worked in those positions. The documents were processed on the same day so they could return to their old positions. Thus, their service continued fictitiously. The Prosecutor's Office claims this was illegal.
Heldna has unjustly received over 14,000 euros. Payments for the special pension continue. According to the Prosecutor's Office, this could cost taxpayers nearly a million euros.
Four other police officers have not, to the Prosecutor's Office's knowledge, applied for a special pension. If Heldna is found guilty, he could be fined or imprisoned for up to four years. Vaher and Alavere could be sentenced to between one and five years in prison.
The Harju County Court acquitted all three. The Tallinn Circuit Court did not change the decision. Alavere received 14,178 euros in legal aid, Heldna 23,307 euros, and Vaher 19,839 euros.
Some former and current state officials say that Vaher was treated unfairly. They believe that the Republic of Estonia should apologize to Vaher rather than take the case to the Supreme Court.