Raseiniai official faces trial after torching confiscated car

A 39-year-old employee of the Raseiniai District Municipality is on trial after setting fire to a confiscated family car, destroying another vehicle and damaging a third, LRT reported.

Artūras Kosa, who works in the municipality’s Strategic Planning and Project Management Department, does not deny the charges of destroying property in a manner dangerous to the public. The Šiauliai District Court’s Raseiniai Chamber began examining the case on its merits on Wednesday.

Kosa could face arrest or up to five years in prison. He had hoped to avoid criminal liability through a surety arrangement, but objected to the amount of damage calculated in the case.

The fire broke out on the evening of November 21, 2025, at a vehicle storage yard in the Alėjai settlement in Raseiniai District. The fire destroyed an Audi Q5 and a Volvo V90 and damaged a Volkswagen Golf.

Investigators identified Kosa as the suspect. According to the case materials, he entered the guarded yard after damaging its fence and set fire to the Audi Q5, which had been confiscated from him. The flames spread to the vehicles parked nearby.

Kosa admitted his guilt both during the pretrial investigation and in court. He said he had acted spontaneously after deciding that, if the car could not remain in his family, it should belong to no one.

The vehicle belonged to Kosa’s father but was confiscated after Kosa was caught driving without the right to do so. He had previously lost his driving licence for 21 months after being caught driving while intoxicated in 2024, and was caught driving again in October 2025.

After the vehicle was confiscated, Kosa went to the storage yard in Alėjai to collect personal belongings. He later returned on a quad bike, which he was also not legally allowed to drive. He brought an angle grinder to damage the fence and a plastic bottle of petrol, which he poured inside the Audi before setting it alight.

The total losses, including the three vehicles and property belonging to the company operating the storage yard, exceed 35,000 euros. The Audi was valued at 8,057 euros, the Volvo V90 at 18,090 euros and the Volkswagen Golf at 770 euros.

Kosa disputes the valuation. He has argued that the Volvo V90 was worth at least one-third less than the amount stated in the claim. His objection prevented the case from being handled under an accelerated procedure, which would have reduced the sentence by one-third if the evidence did not have to be examined in court.