Lithuanian prosecutors charge five politicians over expense claims

Lithuania’s prosecutor’s office and Special Investigation Service have charged five current and former municipal councillors in cases involving allegedly false expense claims, LRT reported.

The suspects are Jonava District Municipality councillor Vijolė Šadauskienė, former councillor Remigijus Osauskas, Marijampolė Municipality councillors Jonas Grabauskas and Darius Kemeraitis, and former Kaišiadorys District Municipality councillor Dalius Matkevičius.

Prosecutors allege that Šadauskienė, while serving as a Jonava District councillor from 2019 to 2023, submitted advance expense reports containing potentially false information about transport costs. She may have caused EUR 11,010 in financial damage to the municipal administration.

She has been charged with abuse of office, misappropriation of property, and the forgery of documents or handling forged documents.

Osauskas, who served as a Jonava District councillor from 2019 to 2023, allegedly submitted advance expense reports containing false information about transport costs, causing an estimated EUR 3,070 in damage. He faces the same charges as Šadauskienė.

Grabauskas allegedly submitted expense summaries containing false information about fuel costs while serving as a Marijampolė councillor from 2019 to 2021. Prosecutors estimate the damage to the municipality at EUR 1,621. He has been charged with abuse of office, fraud, and the forgery of documents or handling forged documents.

Kemeraitis, who also served on the Marijampolė council from 2019 to 2021, allegedly submitted false fuel expense information, causing an estimated EUR 2,297 in damage. He faces the same charges as Grabauskas.

Matkevičius allegedly submitted activity expense reports containing false information about transport costs while serving as a Kaišiadorys District councillor from 2019 to 2020. The alleged damage to the municipal administration amounts to EUR 972. He has been charged with abuse of office, fraud, and the forgery of documents or handling forged documents.

Three politicians released from criminal liability

The Klaipėda District Court approved prosecutors’ decisions to release Tauragė District councillors Raimondas Matemaitis and Linas Janušonis, as well as former Skuodas District councillor Rimantas Urniežis, from criminal liability under suretyship in the same expense claim cases.

Prosecutors and the court found that the politicians had fully admitted their guilt, expressed sincere regret and compensated the damage. They were placed under one-year suretyship terms and ordered to make payments of between EUR 600 and EUR 1,250 to the Fund for Persons Affected by Crime.

According to the case material, Matemaitis abused his official position and forged 10 expense reports linked to his council activities while serving as a Tauragė District councillor from 2021 to 2022. The reports allegedly contained false information about the use of funds allocated for fuel for council activities.