“All participants in the process spoke, gave their closing remarks, and the judge retired to the deliberation room to make a decision,” Valentinas Alekna, the prosecutor supporting the state’s accusation in the case, told BNS.
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The court plans to announce the verdict on June 25.
As BNS wrote, the mayor of Kaišiadorys district is accused in the case of abuse of office, document forgery, and fraud. According to the prosecutor’s office, during his previous term as a council member, Š. Čėsna falsified 42 expense reports and fraudulently acquired 4,424 euros.
The majority of this sum consists of fuel expenses, which were paid for with payment cards of “Telesita”, a company partly controlled by Š. Čėsna. In addition, the politician used the company car for trips related to his activities as a council member.
The court had already examined this case and intended to announce its decision in January, but extended the evidence investigation due to the need to question more payment card owners.
“The court decided to additionally clarify certain circumstances; payment card owners and representatives whose cards were used in the receipts submitted for Š. Čėsna’s compensation were questioned,” the prosecutor said.
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In his closing speech last December, he proposed imposing a 10,000 euro fine on the politician and prohibiting him from holding elected or appointed state or municipal positions for three years.
“Regarding the penalties, we said nothing new; the prosecutor considered the additionally investigated circumstances to be unchanged,” noted V. Alekna.
Meanwhile, Š. Čėsna states that he is completely innocent and asked the court to acquit him.
After the Special Investigation Service filed suspicions against the politician last February, he suspended his membership in the Liberal Movement. Š. Čėsna previously stated that he wanted to work for Kaišiadorys and would seek a second term as mayor despite the court process.
