Sinkevičius says searches show investigators still have unanswered questions

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the searches of members of the Nemuno aušra political party did not automatically indicate that crimes had been committed, but strengthened the assumption that investigators had unanswered questions, LRT reported.

Financial Crime Investigation Service officers searched the homes of five Nemuno aušra members of the Seimas and the office of party leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis on Tuesday.

“Politicians should not comment on investigations conducted by law enforcement, and I follow that principle,” Sinkevičius told journalists in Klaipėda. He said searches were part of criminal proceedings during which documents, data storage devices and other information relevant to an investigation could be seized.

“This does not automatically indicate anything, but it probably strengthens the assumption that the investigation is progressing and that there are unanswered questions that investigators are trying to clarify,” he said.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said the searches were conducted as part of a pre-trial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the rental of cars to Nemuno aušra. The searches involved the homes of Robertas Puchovičius, Kęstutis Bilius, Daiva Žebelienė, Lina Šukytė-Korsakė and Tadas Sadauskis.

The investigation, launched in March, is examining whether criminal conduct occurred when Seimas members Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Daiva Petkevičienė rented their cars to the party while also using the vehicles themselves. The investigation is being conducted by the Financial Crime Investigation Service.

Ildefonsas Petkevičius, mayor of Kelmė district, confirmed to ELTA that the service’s officers also visited Žemaitaitis’s office in a municipal building on Tuesday. The 15min news portal was the first to report the searches of the lawmakers’ homes.

Prime minister backs review of wife’s employment

Sinkevičius also welcomed an initiative to examine the circumstances of his wife’s employment, saying an investigation could end further speculation.

The Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission is due to decide on Wednesday whether to launch an inquiry into the management of public funds and employment practices at Kaunas District Municipality and its subordinate institution, Raudondvaris Manor.

“All investigations that help clarify the situation are welcome. If they are carried out, I think they will finally put an end to all speculation on this issue,” Sinkevičius said.

The commission had planned to decide on the matter at the end of August, but no vote took place because the meeting lacked a quorum.

LRT’s Investigative Department previously reported that Aistė Sinkevičienė became head of the Kaunas District Municipality’s Public and International Relations Department without a competition and also worked at Raudondvaris Manor. She was reportedly employed there half-time as a remote public relations specialist. Her contact details were not publicly available, while the institution’s deputy director told journalists she did not know of such a colleague.

Kaunas District Mayor Valerijus Makūnas last week formed a working group to examine possible breaches in the hiring of staff at Raudondvaris Manor. The group will assess the need for Sinkevičienė’s position, her duties, workload, remote working arrangements, time records, pay and documentation supporting the work she carried out.