Seven politicians face suspicions over council expenses

Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service has brought suspicions against seven people over alleged abuse involving funds allocated to municipal councillors’ activity expenses, LRT reported on Monday.

The suspects are Marijampolė Municipal Council members Jonas Bieliauskas and former member Ramūnas Burokas, Prienai District Municipal Council member Aleksas Banišauskas, Skuodas District Municipal Council member Rimantas Urniežis, Pagėgiai Municipal Council member Ramutė Valančienė, Tauragė District Municipal Council member Rima Badzinaitė-Latožienė and Kaišiadorys District Municipal Council member Jolanta Armonavičienė.

The criminal case of former Kaišiadorys District Municipal Council member Karolis Petkevičius has been referred to court.

Bieliauskas allegedly abused his official position and forged documents while serving on the Marijampolė council from 2019 to 2023. He allegedly submitted expense summaries containing inaccurate information about fuel costs, causing the municipal administration financial damage of €2,900. He faces suspicions of fraud, abuse of office, document forgery and handling forged documents.

Burokas is suspected of similar conduct during his 2019–2023 term on the Marijampolė council. The alleged damage to the municipal administration was nearly €5,600. He faces the same suspicions as Bieliauskas.

Banišauskas allegedly submitted expense summaries containing inaccurate information about fuel costs while serving on the Prienai District council from 2019 to 2023. The alleged damage to the municipal administration was €1,100. He faces suspicions of fraud, abuse of office, document forgery and handling forged documents.

Urniežis is suspected of submitting expense summaries with inaccurate fuel-cost information during his 2019–2023 term on the Skuodas District council and of fraudulently taking control of another person’s property. The alleged damage to the municipal administration was nearly €1,200. He faces suspicions of fraud, abuse of office, document forgery and handling forged documents.

Valančienė allegedly submitted expense summaries containing inaccurate information about fuel costs while serving on the Pagėgiai council from 2019 to 2023. The alleged damage to the municipal administration was €3,700. She faces suspicions of attempted fraud, misappropriation of property, abuse of office, document forgery and handling forged documents.

Badzinaitė-Latožienė allegedly submitted expense summaries with inaccurate fuel-cost information and misappropriated another person’s property during her 2019–2023 term on the Tauragė District council. The alleged damage to the municipal administration was €4,000. She faces suspicions of misappropriation of property, abuse of office, document forgery and handling forged documents.