Court fines former head of the NMA Legal Department T. Jakutis and 5 others almost €100,000

The Lithuanian Supreme Court, after rejecting the cassation appeals of three convicted persons, upheld the conviction of the former Director of the Legal Department of the National Paying Agency (NPA), Tautvydas Jakutis, and five other persons for abuse. The Court of Appeal imposed a final fine of €18,830 on the then head of the NMA department. Five other persons convicted of influence peddling will have to pay fines ranging from €9,400 to €32,000, totalling almost €100,000.

The pre-trial investigation into corruption-related offences at the NMA was carried out by the Special Investigation Service, led by prosecutors from the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Division of the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor's Office and supported by the public prosecution.

The case data show that in 2015–2017, G. P., for his own benefit, directly or through an intermediary, V. T., agreed to take a bribe of about 50 thousand euros and jointly took more than 12 thousand euros as a bribe from 3 persons. In return, he promised to influence the then Director of the Legal Department of the NMA, Mr T. Jakutis, to act illegally in the exercise of his powers.

The then Director of the Legal Department of the NMA and the Chairman of the Commission for the Resolution of Problems in Support Administration had to deal with the problems that arose in the administration of the support measures under the competence of the NMA. Being acquainted with Mr P. and having a friendly relationship with him, Mr Jakutis sought and took favourable decisions at the Commission's meetings on the matters requested by Mr P.

Acting outside the interests of the service, the representative of the NMA actively sought to ensure that funding was granted, that irregularities were not detected or that the granting of aid funds was extended to projects on which he was influenced by Mr P., and to keep Mr P. directly informed of decisions taken by the Commission.

The Court of Appeal found that Mr Jakutis, by deliberately violating the requirements of the legislation and the principles set out therein, and unlawfully using his official position and the powers vested in him, acted in the interests of other persons, undermined the authority of the NMA and the reputation of a civil servant, thereby causing serious non-material damage to the interests of the State.

The businessman G. P., found guilty of trading in influence, was also sentenced to a suspended sentence of 2 years' imprisonment.

The decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania is final and cannot be appealed.