Panevėžys council member admits guilt in expense fraud case, avoids criminal punishment

A Panevėžys city council member has been released from criminal liability after admitting guilt in a case involving fraudulent expense claims, local media LRT reports.

Arūnas Balčiūnas, a former athlete and current council member, was accused of abuse of office, fraud, falsification of documents, and misuse of official documents. The charges stemmed from his submission of 49 false expense reports between 2019 and 2023, while serving as a council member. These reports included personal mobile phone bills, device taxes, and insurance for family members, as well as telecommunication services for an association he led, all falsely claimed as official expenses.

The court found that Balčiūnas had abused his position for personal financial gain, causing material and non-material damage amounting to €4,480 to the Panevėžys city municipality administration.

On Friday, Panevėžys District Court ruled to release Balčiūnas from criminal liability for two years under a probationary period, without bail, and to terminate the criminal case. He was also ordered to pay a €3,000 fine to the Victims of Crime Fund. The court cited his full admission of guilt, lack of prior convictions, and the fact that he had compensated the financial damage as reasons for the decision.

Balčiūnas, a former long-distance runner and marathon athlete, was elected to the council with the political committee “Atsinaujinančiam Panevėžiui” (For a Renewed Panevėžys). He retains his mandate and is not barred from holding office. The verdict can be appealed within 20 days.