Lithuanian businessman challenges €90 fine for calling prison officer “invalid”
A Lithuanian court is reviewing a €90 fine imposed on businessman Vilhelmas Germanas for allegedly insulting a prison officer by calling him an “invalid,” his lawyer confirmed Thursday.
According to attorney Gintaras Dabkevičius, the fine was issued in February while Germanas was still in custody at Kaunas Prison. The conflict arose when an officer attempted to remove a ring from Germanas’ hand. The Lithuanian Prison Service imposed the penalty for verbal abuse and defamation, which Germanas is now contesting in Vilnius District Court. Dabkevičius stated that the defense will request witness testimony during proceedings; Germanas himself did not attend the hearing.
Germanas was released from Kaunas Prison on February 16 after 16 months in pretrial detention. The Vilnius Regional Court had rejected prosecutors’ requests to extend his detention, instead applying less restrictive measures: a six-month intensive supervision order and a €1 million bail. Prosecutors appealed this decision, but the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling. Under Lithuanian law, pretrial detention cannot exceed 18 months, and time served is credited toward any eventual prison sentence or converted into monetary fines.
The case is part of a broader investigation into the financial technology company Foxpay. Authorities have charged seven individuals—including Germanas—in connection with alleged money laundering, fraud, embezzlement, bribery, and asset misappropriation. Investigators claim the group may have laundered at least €17 million between 2023–2024 and paid over €100,000 in bribes to conceal their activities. During 32 searches, officials seized €500,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, property, and artwork.
Among those charged are Germanas’ partner, Ieva Trinkūnaitė, and Mindaugas Navickas, husband of former Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė. Navickienė resigned amid controversy after reports linked her to Trinkūnaitė and Germanas, including a private trip to Dubai.