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General introduction
History
Prosecutor General
The Northern Circuit Prosecutor’s Office
The Southern Circuit Prosecutor’s Office
The Viru Circuit Prosecutor’s Office
The Western Circuit Prosecutor’s Office
International cooperation

General introduction

25. March 2009
The Prosecutor’s Office is a government agency within the area of government of the Ministry of Justice.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office Act, the Prosecutor’s Office participates in planning surveillance required for the prevention and detection of crimes;

leads pre-trial criminal proceedings ensuring its lawfulness and effectiveness;

represents public prosecution in court and fulfils other duties imposed on the Prosecutor’s Office by law.

Being the leader of criminal proceedings, the prosecutor guides the preliminary investigator in collecting evidence and decides whether to bring charges against a person on the basis of the facts established.

The Prosecutor’s Office conducts criminal proceedings in cooperation with the following investigative bodies: Police Board, Central Criminal Police, Security Police Board, Tax and Customs Board, Border Guard Administration, Competition Board and General Staff of the Defence Forces.

The Prosecutor’s Office consists of two levels: the Office of the Prosecutor General as the superior prosecutor’s office and four District Prosecutor's Offices.

The work area of the Office of the Prosecutor General covers the whole of Estonia and the work areas of  District Prosecutor’s Offices coincide with the work areas of police prefectures. The Prosecutor’s Office is headed by the Prosecutor General, who is appointed to office for five years. Mr Norman Aas was appointed Prosecutor General on 7 February 2005.

A District Prosecutor’s Office is headed by the chief prosecutor, who is also appointed to office for five years.

On 1 September 2007 Mrs Endla Ülviste was appointed Chief Prosecutor of the Northern District Prosecutor’s Office, on 1 March 2005 Mrs Dilaila Nahkur-Tammiksaar was appointed Chief  Prosecutor of the Viru District Prosecutor’s Office and on 1 February 2008 Mr Margus Gross was appointed Chief  Prosecutor of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office. On 1 March 2009 Mr Jüri Pikma was appointed Chief  Prosecutor of the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.