Sabutis submitted false receipts to municipality for reimbursement

Former Jonava district municipality deputy mayor and council member Eugenijus Sabutis included fuel receipts from his wife’s employer and construction companies in his expense reports, according to a report by LRT.

The allegations emerged during the examination of his criminal case at the Kaunas District Court, where prosecutor Darius Valkavičius presented the indictment. Sabutis is accused of submitting false receipts to claim reimbursement for alleged expenses, using checks paid by public institutions, private companies, and individuals via bank cards and cash.

The funds were used to purchase fuel, television services, and installment-based television equipment purchases. Authorities claim Sabutis wrongfully received €3,100 in reimbursements.

The public institution involved is the Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service, while the companies are construction firm Egsta and Comintela, which specializes in suspended ceiling installation. Prosecutors also noted that payments were made to Telia Lietuva for television and equipment services.

Sabutis’ declarations show his wife, Rasa Sabutienė, worked as a workplace safety specialist at the Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service in Akademija, Kėdainiai district, during the relevant period.

When asked how receipts from public institutions and companies appeared in his expense reports, Sabutis, now a member of parliament, declined to comment in court. He denied the charges and stated he would provide evidence only after all witnesses are questioned and case materials are examined.

The case involves 10 witnesses, all summoned for a hearing on September 30. A municipal representative failed to appear at the first hearing, and the court will notify them again.

According to ELTA, while serving as a Jonava council member in 2019–2020, Sabutis allegedly submitted documents claiming he used about 1.5 tons of fuel for official activities and provided false receipts for reimbursement. He also purchased a Samsung television with a sound system using municipal funds.

Last September, Sabutis, who had lost his legal immunity, observed that investigations into the so-called “checks case” often targeted council members when they sought higher office or gained national political attention. He had considered running for prime minister in August after receiving support from colleagues but withdrew his candidacy upon learning he would be granted special witness status in the case.

Sabutis confirmed he learned about the upcoming STT questioning during a Lithuanian Social Democratic Party presidium meeting while discussing his prime ministerial candidacy. President Gitanas Nausėda previously stated that if law enforcement attempted to interfere in political processes to find a prime ministerial candidate, “heads would roll.”

Prosecutor Valkavičius said Sabutis’ family members were questioned on July 30, 2025, while two others were interviewed on July 28 and 29. Witness interviews took place on July 30 and August 1, after which it was decided to question Sabutis as a special witness.