Investigators search National Paying Agency director’s premises

The Financial Crime Investigation Service is conducting a search at the home or premises of National Paying Agency director Fortunatas Dirginčius, LRT.lt reported, citing sources. The searches were carried out on Thursday.

The service also searched the National Paying Agency on Tuesday. The investigation concerns deputy director Tomas Orlickas and the allocation of support to the company Agro Digital Solutions, owned by Orlickas’s mother-in-law, Zita Čepkauskienė.

“Intensive investigative actions are continuing as part of the pre-trial investigation. As mentioned previously, additional and more detailed information will be provided when doing so will not harm the success of the ongoing investigation,” Financial Crime Investigation Service spokeswoman Modesta Zdanauskaitė said.

The criminal investigation concerns suspected abuse of official powers to provide unlawful advantages to people involved in European Union projects. Officials are suspected of deliberately failing to perform their duties, potentially causing substantial financial and non-financial damage to the financial interests of Lithuania and the European Union.

The pre-trial investigation is being organised by European delegated prosecutors in Lithuania.

The National Paying Agency said on Monday that it had suspended Orlickas from his duties on July 15. The agency said he may have confused public and private interests while carrying out international projects financed from a separate European Commission budget.

Minister calls situation serious

The National Paying Agency is subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Mažeika said the law enforcement actions showed that the situation was serious and raised questions about the agency’s oversight.

“The situation is serious. The National Paying Agency has been entrusted with the major task of administering public and EU funds, so such events raise justified questions about the institution’s operations and control,” Mažeika told ELTA on Thursday.

He said he was awaiting the results of the law enforcement investigation and explanations from the agency’s management, adding that he would take the necessary decisions based on the information received and the circumstances established.

Mažeika later told BNS that agency employees, including managers, would be suspended if law enforcement formally suspects them of wrongdoing.