Kracht and Teder were released from custody by the circuit court

Release from custody means that the court did not consider the person’s continued detention justified at that stage of the proceedings. On 16 February 2021, Tallinn Circuit Court released Kersti Kracht, who was suspected of corruption offences, from custody and also decided to release Hillar Teder.

The circuit court upheld the appeal filed by defence counsel Oliver Nääs and Sander Potisepp against Kersti Kracht’s detention. The dispute concerned the Porto Franco criminal case, where the suspicions were connected to an alleged bribery and money laundering arrangement.

Detention is the strictest preventive measure in criminal proceedings. It cannot be used as punishment or as a means of pressure. In every case, the court must assess whether deprivation of liberty is unavoidable or whether the interests of the proceedings can be protected through less restrictive measures. Read more from ERR or Postimees.