President seeks to remove judge convicted of bribery

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has asked parliament to approve the removal of Court of Appeal judge Viktoras Kažys, who was convicted of bribery. Presidential chief legal adviser Andrius Kabišaitis told lawmakers on Tuesday that Kažys acted with direct intent and knowingly breached the requirements of his office, LRT reported, citing ELTA.

Kabišaitis said the president’s request was based on the Constitution, the Law on Courts and an October 22 resolution by the Judicial Council. The question of Kažys’s dismissal is due to be considered further on November 12.

A Court of Appeal ruling that took effect on September 14 found that Kažys had promised to accept a €10,000 bribe in return for acquitting several people facing charges. The court said his experience as a judge hearing criminal cases meant he understood the seriousness and criminal nature of bribery.

In his remarks to parliament, Kabišaitis said the facts established by the court showed that Kažys had deliberately breached his duties and ethical requirements. He cited the Judicial Council’s resolution, which said the crime was a grave act that discredited the judicial office and breached duties of independence, impartiality, honesty, transparency and professional integrity.

Kažys was convicted of one offence and fined €12,500, but acquitted of another. He has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Kažys was convicted in the Vijūnėlė manor corruption case, which also involved Ričardas Malinauskas, then mayor of Druskininkai. His judicial powers had already been suspended, and he has not heard cases since his arrest.

In February 2019, Kažys, other judges and lawyers were arrested in a large-scale investigation into corruption in the legal system. After lengthy proceedings, judges, lawyers, assistant lawyers and businesspeople were convicted; most were fined, with more than half a million euros in fines due to be paid to the state budget.