The STT refused to open a pre-trial investigation into possible pressure on Ignas Hofmanas
The Special Investigation Service (STT) has decided not to open a pre-trial investigation into possible political pressure exerted by the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Ignas Hofmann, in the process of making appointments to his post.
This was the subject of an earlier referral to law enforcement by the Democratic Union of Lithuania's „Vardan Lietuvos“ faction in the Seimas, which is now working in the opposition.
„Having evaluated the information presented in the public space and in the appeal of the (...) group of the Democrats of the Seimas, concerning the possible unlawful influence on the former Minister of Agriculture, (...) a decision was taken to refuse to open a pre-trial investigation“, – BNS was told by STT spokeswoman Renata Keblienė.
During the review, the STT was investigating whether the actions of I. Hofmanas did not contain the elements of two crimes: abuse of power and unlawful interference in the activities of a civil servant or a person exercising functions of public administration.
The decision not to open a pre-trial investigation has been submitted to the Public Prosecutor's Office for an assessment of its legality and reasonableness.
Law enforcement started to clarify the circumstances after I. Hofman last week told the news portal of the public broadcaster LRT that the leader of the "Nemunas aušros" (Dawn of the Nemunas), Remigijus Žemaitaitis, had pressured him to dismiss the heads of some of the subordinate bodies and to change the requirements for applicants for managerial positions by launching a new competition.
According to the Minister, the leader of the „aušriečiai“ had an interest in changing the requirements of the competition for the director of the Centre for Agricultural Data, and also was interested in the dismissal of the managers of the National Paying Agency, the State Crop Production Service, and the State Food and Veterinary Service.
R. Žemaitaitis denied the accusations.
As BNS wrote, the former chairman of the Council of Agriculture, I. Hofmanas, will no longer serve as a minister in the new government of Inga Ruginiene, and will be replaced by Andrius Palionis, who was nominated by the "Nemunas aušros" party.
