KLAIPEDA - The Klaipeda district court sentenced ex-parliamentarian Virginijus Martisauskas to 18 months in prison on Oct. 7. Martisaukas told reporters that he did not yet know whether he would appeal the sentence. The politician was found guilty of requesting a donation of 20,000 litas (5,800 euros) for his election campaign from Kestutis Siliauskas, director of Klaipeda's environmental department.
The money was supposed to be handed over to the lawmaker at a cafe in the town of Vilkyciai. However, Martisauskas later told officials that he did not even touch the money. The scheme, he said, was a well-planned provocation and was specially arranged against him.
Police launched an investigation into the matter on Oct. 4, 2004. Three days later, Martisauskas gave up his seat in the Seimas (Lithuania's parliament). Prosecutors based their case on witnesses and secretly-made recordings.
