Convicted MP Bagdonas appears in court with new lawyer in “receipts” case

Lithuania’s Court of Appeals failed to review the appeals in the criminal “receipts” case of MP Andrius Bagdonas on Thursday after the convicted politician arrived with a new lawyer who requested more time to submit additional material, LRT reports.

A panel of three judges, led by Judge Virginija Liudvinavičienė, had expected to resolve the case in a single hearing. However, Bagdonas’s new defence attorney, Mindaugas Greičius, filed a procedural request for a recess, seeking a two-month pause to gather and present further documents.

“You do not have the right or the luxury to choose if you cannot ensure a proper defence,” Judge Liudvinavičienė told the court.

The judges scheduled the next hearing for 28 September, with an additional date set for 30 September in case one session proves insufficient. The court emphasised that all documents must be submitted by September to allow sufficient time for review.

Greičius previously defended Vaidas Pituškienis, a Marijampolė council member who was fully acquitted in a similar “receipts” case.

Bagdonas told ELTA that he expects the Court of Appeals to review the entire case file from the Klaipėda Regional Court and determine whether its ruling was just. “We are preparing seriously because this decision concerns my life,” he said.

In February, the Klaipėda Regional Court fined Bagdonas €5,000 for abuse of office, falsification of documents, and fraud. The court described the penalty as minimal, noting the politician’s otherwise positive character. Prosecutors had sought a €7,500 fine and a three-year ban on holding elected or appointed public office, but the court rejected the latter, deeming it disproportionate given Bagdonas’s long political career and lack of prior convictions.

The prosecution has appealed the decision not to apply the additional penalty, while Bagdonas has appealed for a full acquittal, arguing that the court’s findings contradict the case facts. He claims the receipts were submitted by mistake and cites other politicians—including Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius and mayors Nijolė Dirginčienė and Povilas Isoda—who were fully acquitted in similar cases.

The Court of Appeals’ ruling will be final. If upheld, Bagdonas may lose his parliamentary mandate.

According to case documents, Bagdonas allegedly abused his position as a council member in 2020 by falsifying five expense reports, fraudulently claiming €580 in fuel reimbursements. Investigators allege he submitted 13 receipts from automatic fuel stations that belonged to other individuals to the Neringa Municipality Administration.