Prosecutors suspect three more politicians in council expense cases

Three politicians from the Kalvarija and Prienai district municipal councils have been formally suspected of possible abuse over the reimbursement of council members’ expenses, Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on Thursday, LRT reported.

The suspects are Kalvarija municipal council member Rimas Sujeta, former Kalvarija council member Zigmas Grabauskas and Prienai district municipal council member Angele Mickiene.

Prosecutors allege that Sujeta, who served on the Kalvarija council from 2019 to 2023, submitted expense reports containing possibly false information about fuel costs. The alleged conduct caused the Kalvarija municipal administration financial damage of 5,288 euros. He faces suspicion of fraud, abuse of office and the forgery of documents or possession of forged documents.

Grabauskas is accused of similar conduct while serving on the Kalvarija council during the same period. The alleged damage to the municipal administration amounts to 2,287 euros. He faces the same suspicions as Sujeta.

Mickiene is accused of submitting expense reports containing possibly false information about fuel costs while serving on the Prienai district municipal council from 2019 to 2023. Prosecutors estimate the damage to the Prienai district municipal administration at 3,091 euros. She faces suspicion of fraud, abuse of office and the forgery of documents or possession of forged documents.

The Prosecutor General’s Office also said the Šiauliai District Court had approved the termination of a pretrial investigation into Joniškis district municipal council member Vilija Bartašiene and her release from criminal liability under surety.

The investigation found that Bartašiene had submitted advance expense reports containing false information about fuel costs while serving on the Joniškis district municipal council from 2019 to 2023. The alleged damage to the municipality was 637 euros.

According to prosecutors, Bartašiene fully admitted her guilt, expressed sincere regret and reimbursed the Joniškis district municipality. She was placed under a one-year surety period, barred for three years from being elected or appointed to elected or appointed positions in state or municipal institutions, companies or non-governmental organisations, and ordered to pay 1,000 euros to the Fund for Victims of Crime.