Marijampolė deputy mayor convicted in “receipts” scandal seeks constitutional review

Artūras Visockis, the deputy mayor of Marijampolė convicted in the high-profile “receipts” corruption case, has formally requested that his appeal be referred to Lithuania’s Constitutional Court, LRT reports.

During Monday’s hearing at the Lithuanian Court of Appeal, Visockis’ defence lawyer Giedrius Danėlius argued that the case raises constitutional questions about equal treatment under the law. The lawyer asked the court to attach a recent statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office, which announced civil claims totalling nearly €38,000 against councillors in four municipalities for allegedly unjustified reimbursements—far exceeding the €3,400 at issue in Visockis’ criminal trial.

“We see inconsistency in how similar cases are handled—some face criminal prosecution, while others are pursued through civil claims,” Danėlius told ELTA. He asserted that the discrepancy warrants Constitutional Court review to determine whether the legal framework governing councillors’ expense reimbursements violates the principles of equality and the rule of law.

The defence maintains that reimbursement rules for local councillors—covering office, travel, and communication costs—are set by municipal regulations rather than national law, potentially conflicting with constitutional protections. Kaunas Regional Court, which initially convicted Visockis in December, had rejected a similar request to refer the case to the Constitutional Court.

Visockis, found guilty of fraud for misusing €3,400 in public funds, was fined €5,000 and barred from holding public office for three years—a ruling that would have cost him his position had it not been appealed. His defence now seeks full acquittal, arguing that the reimbursement system itself lacks clear legal grounding.

The “receipts” scandal has ensnared multiple politicians across Lithuania. On Monday, prosecutors filed new civil claims against councillors in Lazdijai, Rokiškis, Marijampolė, and Panevėžys, demanding repayment of nearly €38,000 in allegedly improper reimbursements. In one case, a Marijampolė councillor is accused of claiming over €10,000 for fuel alone—submitting receipts for both petrol and diesel despite driving a diesel-powered vehicle.