Prosecutor to propose sentence for former deputy health minister in COVID-19 test case

A Vilnius court will continue hearing the prosecutor’s closing arguments on Wednesday in the case against Lithuania’s former deputy health minister Lina Jaruševičienė, accused of abuse of power in the procurement of rapid COVID-19 tests, LRT reports.

Prosecutor Gintaras Plioplys, who represents the state’s accusation, began his closing statement on April 14 and is expected to conclude it during the session. “I hope to finish the speech, but I cannot say how it will proceed,” Plioplys told the Baltic News Service (BNS) ahead of the hearing.

Jaruševičienė is charged with making unlawful demands to the National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory (NVSPL), allegedly creating privileges for the pharmaceutical company Profarma while causing significant financial and non-financial damage to the state and the Health Ministry.

According to case materials, the laboratory purchased 510,000 rapid serological tests from Profarma in violation of public procurement laws, with the state paying over €6 million for the tests. An appellate court previously ruled that the state overpaid and ordered two companies, including Profarma, to refund more than €4 million. Profarma complied by returning €145,000 as directed by the court.

Jaruševičienė denies the charges, calling the case fabricated. She claims the procurement decisions were made by then-Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, who previously testified in court that he did not understand why she was on trial. Jaruševičienė resigned from her post in August 2020 after law enforcement announced suspicions against her.

The prosecutor is expected to propose a sentence in the final part of the closing arguments.