Court convicts three men over car arson and violence

Klaipėda Regional Court has convicted three men in a case involving a car fire, public order violations, violence, explosives and prohibited weapons, LRT reported. The men received prison sentences, with execution suspended in two cases and partially suspended in the third.

According to the case file, in March 2024, a 32 year old man from Kaunas and a 31 year old accomplice travelled to Gargždai, where they bought fuel. They later poured it over and set fire to an acquaintance’s car. The vehicle was completely destroyed and another nearby car was damaged. The total damage exceeded 9,500 euros.

Two months later, the same 31 year old man used a car to block a driver leaving his home in Gargždai. During the confrontation, he accused the man of collecting information about a motorcycle club and threatened to burn down his house.

That same evening in Klaipėda, a 26 year old local man attacked and beat another man in a public place, causing minor injuries.

The case file said the car arson, the subsequent conflict in Gargždai and the assault in Klaipėda were linked to disagreements between people belonging to a motorcycle club.

Shortly after the incidents, police in Klaipėda stopped a car carrying the three convicted men. Officers found that the 31 year old man was transporting a hand grenade and detonator. He and the 26 year old man also had two telescopic batons in the car. A prohibited knuckle duster was found during a search of the 31 year old man’s home.

The 32 year old man was also convicted of providing false information to obtain a new passport after police had taken his existing passport as part of a preventive measure. He was additionally convicted of causing minor injuries to another man by hitting him in the face and stomach in Kaunas in October 2022.

The court sentenced the 31 year old man to four years and six months in prison. Once the verdict takes effect, he will immediately serve one year and three months, while the execution of the remaining sentence will be suspended for two years.

The man from Kaunas received a one year and three month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The 26 year old man from Klaipėda received a 10 month sentence, suspended for one year.

During the suspension periods, all three men must work and remain at home at designated times. They must also pay contributions to the Crime Victims Fund: 1,500 euros each for the 31 year old man and the man from Kaunas, and 1,000 euros for the 26 year old man.

The court also upheld civil claims for property and non property damage caused by the car fire, the victim’s medical expenses and property damage incurred by the State Social Insurance Fund.

The verdict may be appealed to the Lithuanian Court of Appeal within 20 days of its announcement.