Image
Published on
(Luxembourg, 20 June 2024) – Today, the Regional Court of Vilnius (Lithuania) convicted a former director of the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute of Lithuania, accused of illegally acquiring €296 871 through the receipt of bribes, illegal enrichment and money laundering.
The court found him guilty of all charges brought by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in February 2024, including bribery, money laundering, illegal enrichment, document forgery and fraudulent financial accounting. He was sentenced to two years of imprisonment, and ordered to pay a fine of €18 000. He was also banned from holding public service positions for five years.
According to the verdict, the former director accepted bribes from individuals, in return for granting public procurement contracts, financed by EU and national funds, by using a company established by himself and his wife, with 15 other related companies. The illicit profits were later laundered.
During the pre-trial investigation, which counted on the support of Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service, assets worth approximately €296 000 were seized.
An appeal may be lodged within 20 days, after which the decision becomes final.
In this investigation, three individuals had already pled guilty of corruption and financial offences, and were ordered to pay €77 000 fines, with an additional €60 000 confiscated. The investigation against seven suspects is still ongoing, with suspicion of misappropriation of EU funds.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.