In a statement published on Thursday 29 August, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said it was extending its fraud investigation to a former Lithuanian MEP. Until now, the investigation had been limited to one of his former assistants.
Viktor Uspaskich, who has not been named by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, is suspected of embezzling more than half a million euros in European funds. Lithuanian prosecutor Vytautas Kukaitis confirmed the identity of the former MEP to the Lithuanian news channel BNS.
Mr Uspaskich is “now officially suspected of abuse of office, falsification and use of false documents, illegal acquisition, possession and use of an electronic document, as well as the acquisition of high-value foreign assets”, said the Public Prosecutor’s Office, reiterating his presumption of innocence.
As revealed in March, the investigation initially focused “on the suspected non-performance or imitation of the actual duties of a parliamentary assistant, with the intent of fraudulently obtaining remuneration between 2014 and 2019, and unemployment benefits from 2019 to 2020”.
Searches had already been carried out at the homes and former workplaces of the suspects earlier in the year. At this stage, the two suspects had to give a written undertaking not to leave the country. The European Delegated Prosecutor has also introduced temporary restrictions on property rights, “to ensure potential damage compensation”.
An MEP between 2009 and 2012, and again between 2014 and 2024, Viktor Uspaskich did not stand for re-election this year. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)