Alytus district council member charged with fraud over expense reimbursements

The Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office has referred a criminal case against Alytus District Municipal Council member Justas Truncė to court, accusing him of fraud, abuse of office, and falsification of documents, state news agency ELTA reported on Tuesday.

According to a joint statement from prosecutors and the Special Investigation Service, Truncė is alleged to have submitted false expense reports between 2019 and 2023 while serving as a council member. The reports included fabricated claims for fuel purchases purportedly linked to his official duties.

Investigators claim Truncė fraudulently obtained €14,725 belonging to the Alytus District Municipality by submitting the falsified reports to the municipal accounting office. He is also accused of undermining public trust in local government by exploiting his position for personal financial gain.

The case has been forwarded to Alytus Regional Court for trial. The investigation follows broader scrutiny of municipal politicians’ use of public funds, triggered by activist Andrius Tapinas’ “Skaidrinam” (Let’s Make It Transparent) initiative, which exposed potential misuse of office allowances by local officials.