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Roundup: Lithuanian lawmaker, business group probed in political corruption case

Xinhua, May 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian Special Investigations Service (STT) conducted searches on Monday at member of parliament Vytautas Gapsys' workplaces, as part of pre-trial investigations linked to alleged political corruption.

Searches were also conducted at the headquarters of some companies belonging to Lithuanian major business group MG Baltic and in the houses of their directors, STT said in a statement.

STT claims it has information that Gapsys, vice-president of the Labor Party, allegedly took large bribes from Raimondas Kurlianskis, vice-president of MG Baltic, in order to influence the MPs' party members at parliament.

Gapsys has been questioned by STT as a special witness as he is protected from legal persecution by law due to his parliamentary mandate.

"The STT officers said they were checking information and allegations that I allegedly could accept a bribe in order to influence other members of parliament while adopting a certain legal act," Gapsys was quoted by local website vz.lt as saying.

He said he will decide on his membership in the Labor Party and his parliamentary mandate "after considering the situation."

Gapsys underlined that STT did not find any cash, neither in his house nor at his workplace.

Valentinas Mazuronis, the leader of Labor Party and member of European Parliament, echoed that decisions will be made after more information is available. However, Mazuronis said he expects that ruling coalition, including the Labor Party, will continue to work until the end of its term. Lithuania will hold national elections in October to elect a new government.

According to him, if it is proved that Gapsys' activities breached the law, the party's decision would be "very severe and very clear."

Mazuronis denied any personal relations with MG Baltic and its executives.

Earlier in May, STT revealed that Eligijus Masiulis, the former leader of Lithuania's Liberal Movement and former member of the parliament, allegedly accepted a bribe of 106,000 euros (118,046 U.S. dollars) from MG Baltic.

Masiulis resigned from his duties in the party but refuted formal charges of influence peddling and unlawful enrichment against him.

Kurlianskis, vice-president of MG Baltic, has been under arrest since May 13. He faces suspicions over large-scale bribery and influence peddling. The investigation on his case continues.

MG Baltic confirmed Monday that searches had been conducted at Mitnija, one of Lithuania's largest construction companies, and LNK, a private broadcaster owning a few TV channels in the country. Both companies belong to the MG Baltic Group.

Vz.lt reported Monday that MG Baltic started cooperation with public relations agency Public FComm, which has experience in crisis management and is specialized in financial communication. Endit