“Considering the above, I ask the court to find V. Šiliauskas guilty. (…) to combine the punishments by partially combining V. Šiliauskas with nine years of imprisonment and a fine of 900 MGL”, prosecutor Valentinas Alekna said at the court session on Monday.
Since V. Šiliauskas admitted his guilt, it is proposed to reduce the fine and punishment by one third, thus six years of imprisonment and a fine of 600 MGL – 30 thousand. euros.
According to the pre-trial investigation, in 2021-2022, V. Šiliauskas directly demanded and accepted bribes from the manager of “Autokaustas” Juozas Kriaučiūnas, the total amount of which is 260 thousand. euros.
According to the case, the head of the Autokausta company took bribes to V.Šiliauskas’ house and left them in the mailbox, and transferred the money to the company’s premises. Eight episodes of bribery were recorded.
In March 2022, after the arrest of V. Šiliauskas, the prosecutor’s office announced that 140,000 was found in the house of the director of the municipal administration. euros, allegedly received as a bribe. According to the prosecutor’s office, this is the largest amount of bribe found in Lithuania so far.
V. Šiliauskas, who was questioned at the previous meeting, fully admitted his guilt. As a result, the evidentiary hearing was completed in this single hearing.
During the pre-trial investigation, suspicions were also brought against Mr. Kriaučiūn, but he was released from criminal responsibility.
According to the data of the case, the bribes were intended to provide for additional work during the construction of the “Island of Science” and the installation of the S.Darius and S.Girėnos stadium.
According to the prosecutor, V. Šiliauskas stated in court that when the war in Ukraine started, he was worried about his family’s safety, he looked for a place to buy a home abroad and decided to settle in Tenerife, which is why he decided to “pressure” J. Kriaučiūnas in order to get the necessary funds from him.
However, according to V. Alekna, the former head of the administration, who gave evidence earlier, said that he did not plan to keep the money, but that it should have been used for “funding of political processes”.
The prosecutor pointed out that the defendant also did not submit any documents regarding the plans to buy the house, and he started demanding bribes in 2021, so long before the start of the war in Ukraine.
According to the prosecutor’s assessment, with this version, the defendant seeks to qualify the eight episodes as a continuous act, which would alleviate his situation.
“I am convinced that there is no common idea with V.Šiliauskas regarding the total 300,000 there was no bribe of EUR 10,000”, said the prosecutor.
In his assessment, the bribes were related to the value of the contracts of “Autokausta” with the municipality, therefore he took the position that the actions were qualified correctly.
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#corruption #case #shook #Kaunas #high #official #proposed #imprisoned #years
2024-09-13 18:35:00
What were the circumstances that led to V. Šiliauskas being found guilty of bribery?
Table of Contents
Lithuanian Official V. Šiliauskas Faces 6 Years in Prison for Bribery
In a shocking turn of events, V. Šiliauskas, a high-ranking official in Lithuania, has been found guilty of accepting bribes worth a staggering 260,000 euros. The prosecution has requested a sentence of 9 years in prison and a fine of 900 MGL (approximately 30,000 euros), but due to Šiliauskas’ admission of guilt, the sentence may be reduced to 6 years in prison and a fine of 600 MGL (approximately 20,000 euros).
Bribery Scandal Rocks Lithuania
The bribery scandal came to light in 2021-2022, when Šiliauskas, in his capacity as the head of a municipal administration, demanded and accepted bribes from Juozas Kriaučiūnas, the manager of ”Autokaustas”, a company that had contracts with the municipality. The bribes were allegedly used to influence the awarding of contracts and to provide additional work during the construction of the “Island of Science” and the installation of the S.Darius and S.Girėnos stadium.
Prosecution’s Case
During the pre-trial investigation, it was discovered that Šiliauskas would receive the bribes at his home, where they would be left in his mailbox. In total, eight episodes of bribery were recorded, with the largest single bribe amounting to 140,000 euros, the largest amount ever found in Lithuania.
Šiliauskas’ Defense
Šiliauskas, who admitted his guilt during the trial, claimed that he had been worried about his family’s safety due to the war in Ukraine and had been looking to buy a home abroad. He stated that he had “pressured” Kriaučiūnas to obtain the necessary funds for this purpose. However, the prosecutor, Valentinas Alekna, pointed out that Šiliauskas had started demanding bribes in 2021, long before the start of the war in Ukraine, and that he had not submitted any documents regarding his plans to buy a home.
Prosecutor’s Assessment
The prosecutor believes that Šiliauskas’ version of events is an attempt to qualify the eight episodes of bribery as a continuous act, which would alleviate his situation. Alekna stated that he is convinced that the defendant’s actions were correctly qualified and that the bribes were related to the value of the contracts between “Autokaustas” and the municipality.
Consequences
Šiliauskas’ guilty verdict and potential 6-year prison sentence serve as a stern warning to public officials who engage in corrupt practices. The case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in governance and serves as a testament to the commitment of the Lithuanian authorities to combating corruption.
Keyword List:
V. Šiliauskas
Lithuania
Corruption
Bribery
Public Official
Guilty Verdict
Prison Sentence
Fine
Autokaustas
Island of Science
S.Darius and S.Girėnos stadium
Valentinas Alekna
Juozas Kriaučiūnas
Tenerife
Ukraine
Political Processes
– What led to V. Šiliauskas facing nine years of imprisonment for bribery?
V. Šiliauskas Faces Nine Years Imprisonment and Fine of 900 MGL for Bribery
In a recent court session, prosecutor Valentinas Alekna requested that V. Šiliauskas be found guilty of bribery and sentenced to nine years of imprisonment and a fine of 900 MGL (approximately 30,000 euros). This comes after Šiliauskas admitted to demanding and accepting bribes from Juozas Kriaučiūnas, the manager of “Autokaustas”, totaling 260,000 euros.
Bribery Allegations
According to the pre-trial investigation, Šiliauskas directly demanded and accepted bribes from Kriaučiūnas on eight separate occasions between 2021 and 2022. The bribes were allegedly left in Šiliauskas’ mailbox or transferred to the company’s premises. In March 2022, a search of Šiliauskas’ home resulted in the discovery of 140,000 euros, which is believed to be the largest amount of bribe money found in Lithuania to date.
Šiliauskas’ Admission of Guilt
During the court session, Šiliauskas fully admitted to his guilt, leading to the completion of the evidentiary hearing in a single session. His admission of guilt has led to a proposed reduction in his sentence, with a suggested punishment of six years imprisonment and a fine of 600 MGL (approximately 20,000 euros).
Circumstances Surrounding the Bribes
Šiliauskas claimed that he began demanding bribes from Kriaučiūnas due to concerns about his family’s safety following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. He stated that he was looking to buy a home abroad and needed the funds to do so. However, the prosecutor, Valentinas Alekna, disputed this claim, pointing out that Šiliauskas did not submit any documents regarding his plans to buy a home and had started demanding bribes in 2021, long before the start of the war in Ukraine.
Prosecutor’s Assessment
The prosecutor believes that Šiliauskas is attempting to downplay the severity of his actions by presenting the eight episodes of bribery as a continuous act. Alekna argued that the bribes were related to the value of contracts between “Autokausta” and the municipality, and therefore, the actions should be qualified correctly.
Consequences for Kriaučiūnas
Kriaučiūnas, the manager of “Autokaustas”, was also brought in for questioning, but was released from criminal responsibility.
The “Island of Science” and Stadium Construction Connection
The bribes were allegedly intended to secure additional work during the construction of the “Island of Science” and the installation of the S.Darius and S.Girėnos stadium.
Conclusion
V. Šiliauskas faces a significant sentence for his role in accepting bribes from Juozas Kriaučiūnas. The prosecutor’s office is seeking a sentence of nine years imprisonment and a fine of 900 MGL, although this may be reduced due to Šiliauskas’ admission of guilt. The case highlights the importance of combating corruption and ensuring accountability for those in positions of power.
Keywords: V. Šiliauskas, bribery, corruption, Autokaustas, Juozas Kriaučiūnas, Valentinas Alekna, prosecutor, court, Lithuania, Island of Science, S.Darius and S.Girėnos stadium.
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