TALLINN — Last Thursday was the kick-off for the highest-profile corruption case in Estonia’s recent history. Former Minister of the Environment, Villu Reiljan is accused of accepting 1.5 million krooni (€95,000) in bribes to facilitate numerous land exchange transactions.

The second hearing will be held in Tallinn district court Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Reiljan requested the 1.5 million krooni bribe from Wipestrex Grupp representative Aivo Pärn to authorize the sale of an office building located at Rävala pst 8 in Tallinn on favorable conditions for the company.

Reiljan’s attorney Aivar Pilv, says the accusations are unclear, inaccurate, and not compliant with internationally recognized principles of defense.

“I have in mind that the accused should be able to understand for what he is charged, and on what the charge is based. In this case, this requirement is being grossly violated,“ Pilv told Baltic Reports, arguing the charges pressed on Reiljn do not meet relevant requirements, which he will point out at Tuesday’s hearing.

“I dare to say that during the opening session on Thursday and also today, the expected prosecutors’ explanations on Reiljan’s property gain are largely ambigious and imprecise as the treatment of financial benefit … is a violation towards the defense and tomorrow we will probably continue to dispute in this matter,” told Pilv.

Pilv argues that the prosecution is submitting irrelevant evidence.

“Our request has not taken into account in this topic. Obviously 193 files and 40,000 pages of documents including the testimonies of 130-135 witnesses … questions the trial fairness and burdens the administration of justice with unnecessary long term and high capacity of work,” Pilv said.

The prosecution counters that all the allegations and submitted evidence is justified.

“In the charges there are all the elements represented on giving and accepting bribes in order to open the case“ State Prosecutor Laura Feldmanis told Baltic Reports.