Official under corruption investigation continues work at State Plant Service

Agnė Silickienė, a suspect in a corruption case at Lithuania’s State Plant Service (VAT), remains an employee of the agency despite the ongoing investigation, according to a report by news portal Delfi.

The service’s international cooperation and communication division advisor, Vilius Rekevičius, confirmed to Delfi that Silickienė is currently on leave. Earlier, portal 15min reported that she has been placed under intensive supervision, including an electronic monitoring requirement, as confirmed by Prosecutor General’s Office representative Elena Martinonienė.

In December last year, authorities detained 13 individuals in a major corruption probe at the State Plant Service. The number of suspects later rose to 15. Investigators allege that officials systematically demanded and received large bribes from companies transporting plants and plant products in exchange for issuing phytosanitary certificates.

Among those named as suspects were the then-director of the service, Jurijus Kornijenko (since removed from office), his deputy Mantas Butas, advisor Silickienė—who had also worked with MP Saulius Skvernelis—along with Giedrius Urbelionis, head of the Alytus regional division, and Dalia Šubonienė, acting head of the Kauno regional division.

During the investigation, authorities seized over €1.3 million in cash, 8 kg of gold worth approximately €1 million, 11,000 packs of cigarettes, 14,000 litres of alcohol, as well as cocaine and explosives in more than 100 searches. In February, searches were also conducted at the homes and offices of MPs Saulius Skvernelis and conservative Kazys Starkevičius, who later faced charges. Starkevičius resigned from his Seimas mandate and suspended his membership in the TS-LKD party, later admitting to 15min that he had accepted a bribe of up to €20,000.