Former adviser says ministry coffee machine was taken to ex-minister's home

TALLINN – Marin Terep, adviser of former minister of education and research Mailis Reps, a Center Party politician charged with embezzlement and fraud, said in the Tallinn-based Harju County Court on Monday that the Jura coffee machine purchased for the ministry was taken from the ministry to Reps' home a few days after the purchase, the daily Postimees writes.

Terep said that the Jura coffee machine purchased for the Ministry of Education and Research left the ministry a few days after its purchase.

Reps told Terep to take the machine to her driver, who took it to Reps' home.

Consent to take the coffee machine away was given by chancellor Mart Laidmets.

According to the statement of charges by the Office of the Prosecutor General, Reps committed embezzlement by ordering employees of the Ministry of Education and Research to carry out tasks related to her children. In addition, Reps is being accused of unlawful use of the ministry's fuel card and of having the ministry cover expenditures relating to her birthday party held on ministry premises.

The former minister has also been charged with fraudulent conduct resulting in the ministry providing Reps with a coffee machine for her home, covering flight costs for her family members, transport and accommodation costs related to a leisure event and expenditures on Reps' birthday party at a restaurant.

According to the charges, Reps used some 7,500 euros' worth of ministry assets to cover her personal expenses.

Reps has not pleaded guilty to the crimes.