Bank taxes are just one of the episodes of a long-running scheme in Sutkus

Due to this problem, the President of the Lithuanian Bank Association Mantas Zalatorius, who was also detained on Tuesday, also caught the attention of the Special Investigation Service.

“Bank taxes are one of several episodes under investigation,” STT director Žydrūnas Bartkus said Tuesday at a press conference.

He said Zalator appeared in one of the episodes of the investigation. “He was included in a potentially criminal scheme by applying V. Sutka. T. and. The remuneration for representing V. Sutkus: these actions are treated as criminals, he explained.” When we talk about Zalator, we name the bill related to bank taxes discussed in Seimas late last year. “

The STT report states that the available data reasonably suspect that V. Sutkus, while performing his duties and representing the interests of LVK members and other business entities, using his duties, public position, acquaintances, contacts or other influence, may have having received illegal monetary compensation for its impact on the adoption of various laws relevant to business.

“Among these bills, in late 2019, the Lithuanian budget package for 2020, bank property and income tax laws and others were discussed. Such a criminal scheme is suspected to have been carried out for a long time, “the report read.

It has already been announced that V. Sutkus and M. Zalatorius are suspected of large-scale bribery, bribery, influence peddling, property waste, and forgery of documents.

Four other people have also been detained, but their identities have not been identified due to the protection of personal data. Ž. Bartkus revealed that these are people in the business world.

Bank taxation

A bank tax episode mentioned by officials took place at the Seimas last year. On October 11, Zbignev Jedinsky, a member of Seimas, registered the bill on the tax on financial market participants.

However, the alternative to this proposal is an additional 7%. corporate income tax rate recorded by members of Seimas Valius Ąžuolas, Vida Ačienė, Juozas Varžgalys and Andrius Palionis

On December 6, the Seimas Budget and Finance Committee decided to support 5 percent. tariff. It is explained that this was done after estimating the corporate tax rates applied by neighboring countries.

On December 17, Seimas approved higher taxes on banks. 2 million The profits of banks that exceed one billion euros are now taxed at 20%. tariff.

Has 125 members

The LVK website announces that the confederation has 125 members. These include companies such as Apranga, Biotechpharma, Bitė Lietuva, Ellex Valiunas, Fabula and Partners, ISM University of Management and Economics, Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, Lithuanian Railways, Linava, Litexpo, Maxima LT, Universidad Mykolas Romeris, Orlen Lietuva, Philip Morris Baltic, SEB Bank, Swedbank and others.

LVBA members also include LBA. Members of the LBA are Citadele, Danske Bank, Central Lithuania Credit Union, Luminor, Medicinos Bankas, OP, SEB, Swedbank, Šiaulių bankas, Unicredit, Embank and Revolut. “

Ž. Bartkus said about 70 searches were conducted Tuesday at various locations in Lithuania, at various companies.

“It just came to our attention then. The study was carried out for a long time, it was non-public in nature and today we explain about 400 thousand. The origin of the euro money. It is too early to say that all this amount was obtained from illegal activities, but its origin is being investigated.

This is not a bribe as payment for a service. This is the amount of money to which the disposition is limited and the origin of that money is investigated. The money belongs to V. Sutkus in one way or another, ”said Ž. Bartkus

He added that data on illegal influence on politicians is not yet available.

„V. Sutkus could have an impact not only on the members of the Seimas, but also on making other decisions in other institutions, ”said Ž. Bartkus

V. Sutkus has been working at LVK since 2006. M. Zalatorius was named head of the LBA in 2017.

Previous conflict

In August 2018, V. Sutkus received allegations from Ligita Valalytė, former head of the Employment Service, and Rimantas Šeris, CEO of the state-owned company Telecentras, of threats and demands for favorable decisions.

As a result, V. Sutkus petitioned the court.

In September 2019, it was announced that a peace agreement had been concluded with L. Valalytė.

In April 2020, it was announced that V. Sutkus intended to appeal the decision of the Vilnius City District Court that only one of R. Šeris’ statements was incorrect and degraded V.’s honor and dignity. Sutkus.

Lobbying problems

Attorney General Evaldas Pašilis said Tuesday that any opaque, dubious, or illegal influence on legislative processes, where specific legislation could become a means to satisfy the interests of certain stakeholders rather than the general public, is a major threat. for the welfare of the state.

“Questions arise as to whether such actions do not cause significant harm to the state budget, or whether they do not unreasonably increase taxes or other financial burdens on our citizens. Therefore, after receiving such data, which is currently in the case, we should conduct a thorough investigation and answer any questions that may arise regarding the legality of such action, “he said.

At that time Ž. Bartkus said the simulated lobbying manifestations revealed by this pre-trial investigation were an intolerable desire for profit, for personal gain, under the guise of existing powers and influence.

“This situation shows once again that there is a need to continue the debate, to find an adequate solution on how lobbying should be done in a transparent manner,” he said.