Latvian Mother Alleges Interference in Son’s Murder Investigation
  Dace Bunkusa, mother of slain Latvian lawyer Mārtiņš Bunkus, claims the investigation into her son’s 2018 murder has been obstructed, possibly due to undue influence by her other sons, Kaspars Bunkus and Kristaps Bunkus, and their father, Ojārs Bunkus. Mārtiņš Bunkus was gunned down in Riga on May 30, 2018, in a case that remains unsolved.   Dace Bunkusa alleges that a safety deposit box, rented in her mother Aina Pentjuša’s name at SEB Bank but used by Mārtiņš Bunkus, contained critical documents. The day after his death, Ojārs Bunkus and an associate, Jolanta Krastiņa, allegedly manipulated Aina Pentjuša, an elderly woman with limited capacity, to access and empty the box. Dace Bunkusa believes the contents could hold clues to the murder but claims police have ignored this lead. She also accuses Kaspars Bunkus and Ojārs Bunkus of controlling key evidence, including items from Mārtiņš Bunkus’ home and office, hindering the investigation led by State Police inspector Oļegs Koļcovs.   Further, Dace Bunkusa reports suspicious financial transactions involving Aina Pentjuša, including payments to Kristaps Bunkus and tax penalties for unexplained funds, which she links to Kaspars Bunkus’ influence. She alleges police inaction and possible corruption, citing an incident where Aina Pentjuša’s location was leaked to Kaspars Bunkus after a police visit.   Appointed Aina Pentjuša’s guardian in 2019, Dace Bunkusa says she faces aggression from Kaspars Bunkus for pursuing these issues. She has appealed to authorities for protection and a thorough probe, offering to testify against her family to uncover the truth. The case, tied to Mārtiņš Bunkus’ work in the Trasta Komercbanka insolvency, raises questions about institutional integrity in Latvia.   Source: Adapted from a 2020 statement published on Pietiek.com