Prosecutors extend attachment on Skvernelis’ Palanga apartment

Lithuania’s General Prosecutor’s Office has extended the attachment on an apartment in Palanga owned by Saulius Skvernelis and his wife, LRT reported. Skvernelis, a member of parliament, is suspected of bribery in a case involving the State Plant Service.

The prosecutor’s office did not disclose how long the restriction had been extended. Property registry data show the apartment has been under attachment since May 26.

Skvernelis and his wife bought the nearly 52-square-metre apartment in 2020, the year it was built, using a loan. Its taxable value is 212,000 euros, according to BNS.

Investigators suspect that Skvernelis accepted at least 51,000 euros in cash in several payments while serving as speaker of parliament, in exchange for political favour in matters related to the Plant Service.

Agne Silickienė, who previously worked as Skvernelis’ adviser, is suspected of belonging to an organised criminal group, taking bribes and possibly acting as an intermediary in transferring money to the politician.

Several other people have been charged in the corruption case, including former lawmaker Kazys Starkevičius, who has publicly acknowledged taking a bribe. Prosecutors say the total amount of bribes in the case may have reached at least 1.112 million euros.