Kaišiadorys mayor to appeal conviction in expense fraud case

The mayor of Kaišiadorys district, Šarūnas Čėsna, plans to appeal his conviction in the so-called “čekiukų” (expense receipts) case, he told LNK news on Thursday.

Čėsna was found guilty of abuse of office, fraud, and document forgery by the Kaunas Regional Court, which fined him €6,000. Prosecutors had requested a €10,000 fine and a three-year ban from holding public office, but the court opted for a lighter penalty.

“My position has not changed, I do not admit guilt,” Čėsna said. “We have gone through a long legal process, and naturally, I would like to be acquitted.” He added that a conviction would not be beneficial for his future and that all legal options would be considered.

According to the prosecution, while serving as a member of the Kaišiadorys District Municipal Council in the previous term, Čėsna falsified 42 expense reports, fraudulently obtaining over €3,800 in municipal funds. The State Prosecutor’s Office noted that the court justifiably reduced the penalty under the current Criminal Code, which reclassified abuse of office from a serious to a less serious offense.

Čėsna had previously suspended his membership in the Liberal Movement after the Special Investigation Service announced suspicions against him last summer. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, he has expressed his intention to run for a second term as mayor.