In the Vikerraadio morning programme on 5 January 2026, sworn attorney Steven-Hristo Evestus from Sirel & Partners Law Firm commented on the recent case where the Supreme Court of Estonia upheld the acquittal of former police chiefs Eerik Heldna, Elmar Vaher and Aivar Alavere in a criminal case concerning the awarding of a police pension to Eerik Heldna.
Steven-Hristo Evestus believes that the prosecution should have analyzed more thoroughly, both when initiating criminal proceedings and when filing charges, whether the accusations against the police chiefs were proven or not. “When the legal system attacks its own people with the most dangerous and strongest weapons, the damage is immense and I feel that the reputational damage that has been caused to these individuals – especially Elmar Vaher who has been a highly recognized and valued police chief in Estonia – is actually irreparable. We do not have the means in the legal system to compensate for this damage.”
It has also been pointed out in media that the prosecution should admit its mistake and apologize. “Why not – I think this is the most sensitive case, considering all the cases that have ended in acquittal,” sworn attorney Evestus said.
Full article in Estonian:
Steven-Hristo Evestus: prokuratuur võiks politseijuhtidelt vabandust paluda – err.ee
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