Lithuanian deputy mayor and council member face corruption charges in expense fraud case

Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service (STT) has formally accused Trakai deputy mayor Jonas Kietavičius and Marijampolė council member Sigitas Valančius of abuse of office, embezzlement, and document forgery in the so-called “čekiukų” (expense voucher) scandal, LRT reported on Thursday.

The charges stem from allegations that both officials submitted falsified expense reports for fuel, phone, and internet costs while serving as municipal council members, defrauding their respective local governments of thousands in public funds.

Kietavičius, who held a seat on Trakai District Municipal Council from 2020 to 2022, is suspected of inflating his expense claims, causing an estimated €2,300 in financial damage to the municipality. Prosecutors have charged him with abuse of power, misappropriation of assets, and falsification of documents.

Valančius, a Marijampolė council member between 2019 and 2021, allegedly submitted false expense summaries for fuel, phone, and internet costs he did not incur, resulting in a €4,100 loss for the city administration. He faces charges of abuse of office, fraud, and document tampering.

The pre-trial investigation follows a broader probe into municipal expense fraud, where council members are accused of exploiting public funds allocated for their official duties.