Šiauliai politician appeals 5,600-euro expense case ruling

Šiauliai City Council member Saulius Stasiūnas has filed a cassation appeal with the Lithuanian Supreme Court over court rulings ordering him to repay 5,600 euros in an expense voucher case, LRT reported.

The civil case also awarded annual interest of 5 percent on the amount. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to accept the appeal for examination.

In the appeal, Stasiūnas asks the court to overturn the rulings, dismiss the prosecution’s claim and award him compensation for legal costs, Lithuanian Supreme Court representative Tautvilė Merkevičiūtė told BNS.

During his 2019 to 2023 term as a member of the Šiauliai City Council, Stasiūnas received 5,652 euros that the courts found constituted unjust enrichment.

The courts said he had improperly spent more than 2,000 euros on fuel, 1,000 euros on vehicle repairs, and more than 500 euros on vehicle maintenance, spare parts, tyres, other goods and services. The amount also included 26 euros for vehicle insurance, 1,300 euros for communications equipment and services, and 732 euros for stationery.

The courts found that the prosecution was correct in arguing that even if Stasiūnas had properly fulfilled his duty to submit financial documents and his expenses had not exceeded the possible maximum amount, this would not mean that all expenses listed in his documents could be reimbursed.