Isoda’s lawyer appeals conviction in municipal expenses case
Wednesday 30th September 2026 on 14:45 in
Lithuania
The lawyer for former Marijampolė mayor Povilas Isoda has appealed his conviction in a municipal expenses case, seeking his acquittal, LRT reported. Lithuania’s Supreme Court received the appeal on Wednesday.
The appeal asks the court to overturn the appellate court’s conviction and restore the first-instance court’s acquittal. Alternatively, the defence wants the case sent back to the appellate court for a new hearing.
The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether to accept the appeal. It reviews each filing to determine whether it meets legal requirements.
In July, the Court of Appeal overturned Isoda’s acquittal and found him guilty. It fined him 10,000 euros and barred him from public service for three years. The ruling took effect immediately, prompting the Central Electoral Commission to end his term as mayor early. Valdas Tumelis was appointed acting mayor.
According to the criminal case, Isoda obtained 2,479 euros in municipal funds by submitting forged documents to the Marijampolė municipality’s accounting office: 26 summaries and 11 reports of expenses incurred as a council member. Prosecutors said the reports included false claims for telephone, internet and transport expenses that had not been incurred in connection with his council work.
During the case, prosecutor Darius Valkavičius said Isoda had used other people’s payment cards to buy fuel. In some instances, fuel was recorded as purchased at least 15 times on the same day and at the same minute. The prosecutor also said fuel was purchased three times in one day at very short intervals.
Isoda has said on Facebook that he repaid 4,748 euros to the municipal budget in November 2023. He described the sum as the portion of payments that could raise questions about whether they were justified, based on an audit by the municipality’s control and audit service.
The case is part of a wider investigation into municipal politicians’ use of public funds, launched after public figure Andrius Tapinas initiated the “Skaidrinam” review.