Kaunas court sentences member of ‘kamuoliniai’ gang to seven years in prison

A Lithuanian court has sentenced Gediminas Sabas, a member of the organised crime group known as the kamuoliniai, to seven years in prison for his role in a planned attack in the Netherlands, state news agency BNS reports.

The Kaunas Regional Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday in a case involving participation in an organised criminal group, illegal possession of firearms, and smuggling. Sabas was found guilty of involvement in a 2011 plot to severely injure Mantas Pečiulis, a man linked to a conflict with the gang over drug-related disputes.

According to the court, the gang’s leaders ordered members to locate Pečiulis—who had fled to the Netherlands—and inflict life-altering injuries, including breaking his hands, shooting his legs and spine, and cutting off an ear. The group smuggled firearms and ammunition into the country, surveilled Pečiulis’ residence, and prepared for the attack.

The assault took place on July 7, 2011, in The Hague, where attackers fired at least four shots at close range, causing serious gunshot wounds. Though Sabas denied involvement and claimed he never travelled to the Netherlands, the court dismissed his testimony, citing consistent evidence from other witnesses and collected materials.

The case was prolonged due to its complexity, involving cross-border investigations and separate legal proceedings against other gang members, some of whom had already been convicted. The ruling may be appealed to Lithuania’s Court of Appeal.