If you belong to the Landsbergiai mafia, then 40 million Euro theft is a simple, almost innocent, embezzlement of funds: The court ordered that Š. Stepukonis should be using ankle-worn monitoring device

     "On Friday, the District Court of the city of Vilnius granted the prosecutor's request and allowed Šarūnas Stepukonis, a former partner of BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, who was arrested in Vilnius in February on suspicion of embezzling 40 million Euro of capital fund funds, to be arrested. This was reported to Elta by court representative Ieva Stumbrienė He will have to wear it at least until June 20. After this court decision, Š. Stepukonis will be released after almost a month and a half of imprisonment.

 

    

 

     According to Elta, on Friday he was brought to the headquarters of the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT), which is investigating his case, in Vilnius. Only the court can appoint a remand measure - the obligation to wear an ankle device - the prosecutor cannot impose this remand measure on his own. It is the second most severe preventive measure. After receiving a request for this preventive measure, the court usually finds out whether, after its appointment, the supply of electricity and proper connection will be ensured. An ankle device is an electronic device that allows you to track a suspect's location. According to Elta, interrogations of the suspect are ongoing, he cooperates with the law enforcement, the man did not complain about his detention or its extension.

 

    

 

     According to the lawyer, the pretrial detention was unjustified. "The prosecutor thinks that he will run and hide, but he came from Ukraine after receiving the first call," his former lawyer Šarūnas Vadeikis told Eltai. As soon as Lithuanian law enforcement officials contacted Š. Stepukonis, he terminated the contract with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the man, as a volunteer, fought alongside the Ukrainians against the Russians, without terminating the contract, he would not have been able to leave the country - men of a certain age are prohibited from leaving Ukraine during the conflict.

 

    

 

     Sh. Stepukonis was arrested on February 10, two days later the court allowed him to be detained for 14 days, then the detention was extended for another month - from February 24 to March 24. He did not challenge any arrest warrant and did not appeal to a higher court. ELTA reminds that the former partner of BaltCap Infrastructure Fund Š. Stepukonis was arrested in Vilnius in February.

 

    

 

     He is suspected of embezzling about 40 million. euro capital fund funds, at least part of which could have been lost in the casino.

 

    

 

     The investigation on Sh. Stepukonis' activities are controlled by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which is entrusted to the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT). Because of Sh. Two pre-trial investigations are being conducted on Stepukonis. In the first, he is suspected of approximately 27 million Euro embezzlement of funds from BaltCap funds. According to the prosecutor's office, more than 20 million Euro Š. Stepukonis could have lost. At that time, another part of the money could have been lost in risky investments through the Interactive Brokers platform. The second pre-trial investigation was resumed after the opening of the first.

 

    

 

     The Vilnius District Prosecutor's Office had already started a pre-trial investigation in 2022 after receiving information from the company "Paysera LT" about Š. 3.9 million  Euro was transferred to Stepukonis' account from the Polish company. According to the prosecutor's office, it was then established that the money was transferred as part of a share sale transaction, so the investigation was terminated.

 

    

 

     Sh. Stepukonis managed infrastructure fund companies in Lithuania for various periods and was the chairman of the board of project companies in Poland. According to the register of legal entities, in Lithuania he is a former member of BaltCap Infrastructure Fund companies Investment uostas, Knowledge investment, Moelta, Nullus, Safe community, Urban Revitalisation, Vējo sesės 1, Head of Venetus capital", "Vilnius multi-functional complex" and "Žvirgždaičių energija". At that time, the Polish registry Š. Stepukonis is listed as the former chairman of the board of companies "Izim SP", "Deuteros Izim Edu", "EN Efficiency PL", "Protos Izim Edu" and "Tritos Izim Edu". As stated on BaltCap's website, Izim is a special portfolio company that aims to raise the standard of living in Polish cities by upgrading public infrastructure.

 

     Sh. Stepukonis also made Gabrielius Landsbergis a millionaire by financing his network of educational institutions disguised under the name of Landsbergis' wife.