Following an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius (Lithuania), two individuals were convicted by the Regional Court of Vilnius of illegally acquiring €130 000 through forgery of documents, fraudulent management of financial records, as well as bribery of a public official.
In 2023, a pre-trial investigation was launched after the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service (STT, Lietuvos Respublikos specialiųjų tyrimų tarnyba) uncovered the involvement of intermediary companies in inflating the prices of research and experimental development (R&D) services for EU and nationally funded projects, aimed at advancing digital innovation and biotechnology.
The court found that the defendants deliberately created fictitious chains of R&D service purchases and simulated money transfers, fraudulently obtaining more than €130 000 of EU and national funds. After the entry into force of the criminal order, the recovered funds will be transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania, which administers the EU Funds Investment Action Program. In addition, the court ordered the payment of a combined fine of €118 000.
With this verdict, a major criminal proceeding, which started with corruption offences related to public procurement at the National Institute for Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment of Lithuania, is successfully concluded.
The court decision became final today.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
Budgetary institution, A. Jakšto g. 6, 01105 Vilnius
Phone +370 706 63 335
E-mail documents@stt.lt
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Code 188659948
