Prosecutors seek over €63,000 from six municipal council members

The Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office has filed new civil claims in court, seeking to recover nearly €63,000 from six municipal council members in Pakruojis, Rokiškis, Vilkaviškys districts, and Marijampolė municipality, according to a report by LRT.

The prosecutors allege the funds were wrongfully reimbursed as expenses. Investigations by prosecutors in Kaunas, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys suggest possible unjust enrichment.

The largest sum, nearly €14,200, is sought from Vytas Bujanauskas, a former council member of Prienai district municipality. Prosecutors found that Bujanauskas was reimbursed €14,443 for fuel expenses, covering 11,675 litres of diesel and petrol. Additionally, during quarantine periods when public gatherings were banned, he received €3,865 in fuel reimbursements.

Over €12,300 is being claimed from Paulius Marozas, a Marijampolė municipality council member. Between 2020 and 2023, Marozas received more than €15,600 in reimbursements for expenses related to his council duties, including car maintenance, fuel, and insurance. Investigators determined that the fuel purchased could cover a distance of 85,891 km.

Algirdas Brazys, another Marijampolė council member, is being asked to repay over €9,700. During his 2019–2023 term, Brazys submitted receipts totalling €16,174 for reimbursement, primarily for fuel, mobile services, internet, and insurance.

Jūratė Drunienė, a Vilkaviškys district municipality council member, faces a claim of over €11,600. Between 2019 and 2023, she received €11,684 in reimbursements, mostly for transport. This included compensation for nearly 8,500 litres of fuel, enough to travel 73,471 km. She also received €2,700 for fuel used during quarantine.

Artūras Jacevičius, a former Pakruojis district municipality council member, is being pursued for over €8,000. Between 2019 and 2023, he received €9,473 in reimbursements for car repairs, maintenance, and fuel. Investigators noted he used 23 different payment cards for fuel and submitted receipts for petrol, gas, and diesel, despite his car running only on diesel. Some reimbursements were also made for expenses incurred before his 2019–2023 term.

Lina Meilutė-Datkūnienė, a Rokiškis district municipality council member, is being asked to repay over €6,600. She was reimbursed €8,799 for fuel, among other expenses.