FNTT: The court has suspended suspect Tomas Orlickas from his duties at the NMA

Whilst the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating possible corruption at the National Paying Agency (NMA), the court has suspended the deputy director of the NMA, the suspect Tomas Orlickas, from his duties and imposed precautionary measures on him.

„The court (...) granted the request of the European Delegated Prosecutor in charge of the case to suspend the suspect, Tomas Orlickas, from his duties as Deputy Director of the NMA for three months, and has also imposed a set of precautionary measures on him“, – announced the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT). 

Several other NMA employees have also been granted suspect status. Meanwhile, NMA Director Fortunatas Dirginiš has been granted witness status.

“Further information regarding the ongoing pre-trial investigation will be provided when it is possible to do so without jeopardising the success of the investigation,” – according to the FNTT.

As reported by BNS, on Thursday the FNTT carried out searches at the NMA for the second time this week, including the office of the agency’s director, F. Dirginčius.

Earlier on Thursday, the Minister for Agriculture, Kęstutis Mažeika, said that once law enforcement had brought charges against the agency’s staff, they would be suspended from their duties, including senior management.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius reiterated this position, stating that “those individuals who are implicated in any investigations will be suspended”.

The FNTT has not yet commented further on its actions, but merely notes that a pre-trial investigation is underway into alleged abuse of office aimed at granting unlawful advantages to individuals participating in European Union-funded projects.