The Panevėžys District Court will no longer hear Kristijonas Bartošević’s case this year

It was planned that K. Bartoševičius would testify at the hearing, which was supposed to take place live. However, it was reported that the hearing was postponed to January 17, because one of the judges hearing the case fell ill.

“One of the members of the panel of judges has been unable to work since today, he is ill,” court representative Jolita Gudelienė told BNS.

K. Bartoševičius is accused of committing 10 criminal acts: two acts – sexual assault committed once morest a child and a minor, four – molestation of a person under the age of 16, and four more – minor health impairment.

K. Bartoševičius himself does not admit his guilt.

During the hearing held at the end of November, the court also accepted two more civil lawsuits from the victims’ representatives. There are three of them in total.

K. Bartoševičius is subject to pretrial detention measures: a written promise not to leave, prohibiting communication with the specified persons, and confiscation of documents. He is also subject to a temporary restriction on using the money available in the bank.

The prosecutor’s office submitted his case to the court at the end of July. Its examination takes place during closed sessions in order to protect the affected minors and not reveal their identities.

The Criminal Code provides for imprisonment from 3 to 15 years for sexual rape, up to five years for molesting persons under the age of 16, lighter punishments are provided for health impairment.

It is suspected that K. Bartoševičius committed the crimes while a member of the Seimas. The news portal “Delfi” announced that it is suspected that K. Bartoševičius molested the pupils of the boys’ and youth choir “Ažuoliukas”.

The prosecutor’s office has been conducting a pre-trial investigation into the possible sexual abuse and molestation of minors and minors since last November. The allegations once morest K. Bartošević were submitted in February, and he refused the mandate of a member of the Seimas at the end of January.