FNTT searches homes of five Nemuno aušra politicians

The Financial Crime Investigation Service, known as FNTT, searched the homes of five members of the Nemuno aušra political party’s board on Tuesday, LRT and BNS report. The searches were part of a pre-trial investigation into the circumstances of members of parliament renting their cars to the party.

The searches were carried out at the homes of Robertas Puchovičius, Kęstutis Bilius, Daiva Žebelienė, Lina Šukytė-Korsakė and Tadas Sadauskis. They are among the 11 members of the party’s board and are also members of parliament.

According to 15min.lt, FNTT officials also visited the office of party leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis in Kelmė. LRT sources confirmed the visit, but said unofficially that it was not part of a formal search procedure.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 182(2) of the Criminal Code, concerning fraud. Its aim is to determine whether a criminal offence was committed when MPs Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Daiva Petkevičienė rented their cars to Nemuno aušra while also using the vehicles themselves.

Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė declined to comment to BNS on the circumstances surrounding the procedural actions.

After the search at his home, Puchovičius told LRT Radio that officials had taken his phone and computer but had not informed him of any suspicions.

“Everything is fine. The officers woke the family in the morning. They came and checked whether I had any additional documents they needed for the investigation. They took my phone and computer. The search was conducted properly, everything was fine, and the officers did their job,” Puchovičius said.

He said he had not been presented with any suspicions because his car had not been rented out.

Žemaitaitis told LRT Radio that the searches were linked to an earlier investigation launched in May. He said officials were checking documents submitted by the party’s board and determining whether they had been falsified.

According to law enforcement authorities, the procedural actions were carried out as part of an investigation launched in March into the circumstances of MPs renting cars to Nemuno aušra and to collect data relevant to the case. The investigation is continuing, and no one has been formally suspected at this stage.