The story of Laurynas Vainutis was one of the first to be involved in the so-called check scandal.
The politician from Neringa, a conservative, was convicted for falsifying council member expense reports for three years, submitting foreign fuel purchase receipts, and fraudulently acquiring municipal property for his own benefit – more than 600 euros, causing significant non-material damage to the state and municipality.
The conservative was exempted from criminal liability under bail, with a bail period set for three years.
However, the court upheld the criminal sanction imposed by the Klaipėda District Court – a three-year ban on being elected or appointed to positions elected or appointed in state or municipal institutions, establishments, or enterprises.
The verdict became final on the day it was issued, that is, January 15. However, on January 29, L. Vainutis participated in a council meeting, which raised questions not only among colleagues but also in the local community. The community appealed to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). At that time, 15min also contacted the CEC.
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Several meetings were needed for the CEC to analyze L. Vainutis’s case. The court was again approached for clarification. On February 27, the CEC decided that L. Vainutis could continue to hold office. The reasoning – exemption from criminal liability under bail cannot be unequivocally considered a final guilty verdict, and the restriction imposed on the politician should apply to future positions.
However, the politician himself decided to resign and informed the CEC of his decision on May 22.
L. Vainutis’s place in the Neringa Municipality Council was taken by another party colleague, Feliksas Marčius, who was next in the pre-election list, elected from the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats candidate list.
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The 43-year-old politician is an environmentalist.
F. Marčius already took the oath at the May 28 meeting.
The 2023–2027 term of the Neringa Municipality Council consists of 17 council members
