Court keeps Kuršėnai head exempt from criminal liability

LRT reports that the Šiauliai Regional Court has rejected a prosecutor’s appeal and upheld a lower court ruling exempting Raimondas Bernotas, head of the Kuršėnai eldership, from criminal liability in a drunk-driving case.

Bernotas remains exempt under a one-year suretyship without a deposit, and the criminal case against him has been discontinued. He has been banned from driving for one year and nine months, and his car has been confiscated.

The prosecutor had challenged the use of a one-year suretyship and asked for the driving ban to be extended to three years. The appeals court found the lower court’s decision to impose a ban of one year and nine months lawful and justified, and said there was no basis to extend it.

According to case records, Bernotas drove a Volkswagen Passat on March 21 while intoxicated and avoided a sobriety test after signs of intoxication were detected. He admitted guilt in the Šiauliai District Court and expressed sincere remorse. The regional court’s ruling took effect immediately.