Prosecutors terminate probe into alleged violations of minor’s rights

Kaunas District Prosecutor’s Office has terminated a pre trial investigation into possible unlawful handling of information about a minor, LRT reports.

The investigation examined the alleged unlawful collection and disclosure of information about a person’s private life, as well as the disclosure of pre trial investigation data.

The case followed an LRT report by journalist Eglė Samoškaitė that a duty officer at the Gruzdžiai Socialisation Centre in Kunionys may have sexually harassed a 14 year old girl living there. Law enforcement authorities initially demanded that the journalist disclose her source, although Lithuania’s Law on the Provision of Information to the Public gives journalists the right to protect the confidentiality of their sources. The prosecution later withdrew that demand.

BNS reported that, after the investigations were merged, the prosecutor overseeing the case decided not to enforce the procedural order requiring the media professional to disclose the source. The decision followed an assessment of the evidence collected and changes in the scope and content of the available information.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said on Thursday that the investigation was terminated because no act containing the elements of a crime or criminal misdemeanour had been established.

Two separate investigations had initially been launched. One in Šiauliai concerned the alleged unlawful collection and disclosure of information about a person’s private life, while the other in Kaunas concerned the unauthorised disclosure of pre trial investigation data. They were later merged to ensure the investigation was completed as quickly and comprehensively as possible. Responsibility for organising and leading the investigation was assigned to the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigations began after police received complaints from the minor’s temporary guardian about possible violations of the minor’s rights and legitimate interests following the public disclosure of sensitive information, as well as the possible disclosure of pre trial investigation data.

The termination decision stated that there was no evidence that information about the minor’s private life had been collected unlawfully or that pre trial investigation data had been disclosed without permission from the judge, prosecutor or pre trial investigation officer handling the case.