Lithuanian Liberal's ex-leader Masiulis keeps getting money from Kurlianskis - prosecutor

VILNIUS - Eligijus Masiulis, the Lithuanian Liberal Movement's former leader charged with political corruption in a high-profile case involving MG Baltic, received 10,000 euros from Raimondas Kurlianskis, the business group's former vice-president, in late 2018, the public prosecutor in the trial said on Monday. 

Justas Laucius told the Vilnius Regional Court that the stated purpose of the payment was a loan. 

"On December 12, 2018, Masiulis received a payment of 10,000 euros into his account from Kurlianskis," he said. 

According to the prosecutor, Masiulis used the money to pay his lawyer and to make a deposit to be allowed to run in the upcoming mayoral election in Klaipeda, as well as for his "day-to-day household needs".   

Laucius drew the court's attention to the fact that Masiulis and Kurlianskis had been prohibited from contacting one another, either personally or via intermediaries. 

The prosecutor said he had received the information from the Financial Crime Investigation Service and the Special Investigation Service. 

The court planned to look at the information later on Monday. 

Prosecutors say Masiulis received bribes from Kurlianskis in exchange for decisions favoring MG Baltic. The defendants deny the charges, saying the investigation was biased.