Apeliacinis teismas atidėjo Bagdono „čekiukų“ bylą

Lithuania’s Court of Appeals has adjourned the appeal hearing in the so-called “čekiukų” (allowance) case of convicted MP Andrius Bagdonas, with proceedings set to resume in late September, the BNS news agency reports.

The court announced a break in Thursday’s session after the defendant’s lawyer requested permission to gather and submit additional documents, which the court granted, according to Venta Valčackienė, a representative of the Court of Appeals.

Further hearings are scheduled for September 28 and 30.

Bagdonas, found guilty in February, is appealing for acquittal. Prosecutors have proposed a non-custodial penalty: a three-year ban on holding elected or appointed office.

In February, Klaipėda Regional Court convicted Bagdonas of fraud, document forgery, and abuse of office during his 2020 tenure on Neringa Municipal Council. He was fined €5,000 for falsifying five expense reports, inflating fuel costs to misappropriate €580 in public funds.

Parliament lifted Bagdonas’ legal immunity in late 2024. He subsequently suspended his membership in the Liberal Movement, resigned from the Seimas Ethics and Procedure Committee, and in August 2024, repaid €4,223 to Neringa Municipality under a public interest settlement. Bagdonas has stated he is being investigated twice for the same offence.