According to him, these are unique cases where officers misuse their official position dishonestly.
“Such situations definitely exist. We are not different people – this happens all over the world, but I truly believe that the services are cleansing themselves from within. (…) I am glad that the acting head of the border service took active measures. (…) I do not believe in systemic corruption in our statutory services, but that there are isolated cases, of course, I admit,” said M. Katelynas on Wednesday after VSAT detained three border guards suspected of connections with smugglers, while observing firefighters’ exercises in the Vilnius district.
The minister told journalists that border guards are supervised by the VSAT immunity board, and officers are also monitored by the criminal intelligence unit, which records attempts by dubious individuals to establish contacts with officers.
“This profession, in general statutory services, is not sufficiently funded and perhaps officers are tempted by the money offered,” said M. Katelynas.
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According to him, “officers tempted by easy money get stuck in a swamp and start working not for the state, but for criminal groups.” According to the minister, efforts are made to prevent this, but if neither preventive talks nor warnings work, eventually officers “get stuck,” and then only their detention remains.
“All who do not act honestly, do not act transparently, will answer according to the law,” said the minister.
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