Director of Lithuania's Financial Crime Investigation Service to undergo polygraph test

Director of the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT), General Kestutis Jucevicius, has agreed to undergo a polygraph test, after it was proposed by the Interior Minister, Saulius Skvernelis.

Jucevicius did not wish to discuss the validity of the official inquiry. However the director said that in the pre-trial investigation he had been recognised as "the aggrieved party and not a suspect", but said that he had agreed to be tested regardless "because the interior minister fancied so".

The FNTT's director welcomed the fact that the test will be carried out by the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence and hoped that this would mean a more objective approach, as it is not subordinate to the interior ministry.

Jucevicius was unable to answer when the test would be performed because he had not been informed yet.

"Since November it has been publicly stated that repeated investigations have been launched against me, but no action has been taken yet. Therefore it would be best to close the issue at some point and not to hinder work," said the director.

As reported, Interior Minister Skvernelis ordered to an official inquiry to be carried out into the director of the FNTT over his suitability to hold office and alleged corruption. The director was suspected to have demanded a large bribe, but allegations were retracted due to the lack of evidence. Nonetheless an official inquiry was launched over the director's eligibility to hold office.