Special investigation service launches pre-trial probe into possible abuse in Palanga municipality

Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service (STT) has launched a pre-trial investigation into suspected abuse of office in Palanga municipality, LRT reports.

The probe follows a complaint by Social Democratic lawmaker Laurynas Šedvydis and Palanga municipal council member Svetlana Tučkė, who raised concerns over how storage premises were later converted into leisure facilities.

According to STT documents seen by ELTA, the investigation began on 18 June under Article 228(1) of the Criminal Code, which covers abuse of office or exceeding authority by a public servant resulting in significant damage to the state, EU, international organisations, or legal and natural persons. Penalties range from fines to up to four years in prison.

The Social Democrats’ complaint centres on a 2023 request by a developer for a certificate regarding newly formed real estate objects in Palanga. The application stated the Medvalakio Street properties would be used for garages, storage, and administrative purposes. However, dozens of separate property units were later formed at the site, and the municipal council, at the developer’s request, changed the land plot’s designated use to recreational.

Publicly, the spaces were advertised as leisure or residential properties under the brand “Palangos loftai”. The Social Democrats noted that one of the shareholders of the company behind the project, “Palangos loftai”, is Aurimas Gečas, brother of Palanga council member and conservative Gediminas Gečas.

Tučkė previously commented that there were grounds to believe the actual project goal may have been the development of leisure apartments rather than the declared garage or storage function from the outset.

Šedvydis argued the municipality failed to actively and comprehensively assess the circumstances of the project’s development and the change of purpose. He stated that the municipality did not verify whether the premises were used as declared, nor did it take action when leisure facilities were openly advertised. No operational checks were conducted, and no processes were initiated for potential violations.

In May, a Seimas (parliament) controllers’ report revealed that the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate, after receiving a 2024 report on potentially illegal construction in Palanga’s Medvalakio Street, inspected the buildings and drew up an act of unauthorised construction for an installed pool. However, the controllers noted the inspectorate did not assess whether the premises’ purpose had been changed from garages to residential after renovations.

Seimas controller Erika Leonaitė concluded the inspectorate had carried out state construction supervision unsatisfactorily, while controller Jolita Miliuvienė evaluated publicly available information about the rental leisure facilities established in the buildings.