Fatal crash in Šiauliai, skull found in Vilnius and €23m "Foxpay" case
Lithuanian police are investigating a series of incidents: a worker has died, a woman has been injured, and human remains have been found. A court is examining a €23m fraud case.
Police investigating several serious incidents across Lithuania in a single day
"Google News LT — Crime (lt)" reports that Lithuanian law enforcement has dealt with several serious cases in a single day – ranging from a fatal workplace accident in Šiauliai to a skull discovery in Vilnius and a fraud case involving more than €23m in court.
Worker dies in Šiauliai
On Wednesday, at approximately 14.05, a worker born in 1990 died after falling from a stuck excavator on Danės Street in Šiauliai. The machinery suddenly moved, crushing the man and causing fatal injuries.
Police reported the incident on Thursday. A pre-trial investigation has been launched into breaches of occupational health and safety requirements.
Woman stabbed with knife in Panevėžys, suspect sought
During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, at approximately 1 o'clock, a man stabbed a woman born in 1982 with a knife on Liepų Alley in Panevėžys. The victim had 1.71 per mille of alcohol in her blood. She received medical assistance and is currently being treated on an outpatient basis.
The suspect, born in 1983, remains wanted. A pre-trial investigation has been launched into causing physical pain or minor health damage to a family member.
Skull and bone fragments found in Vilnius quarry
On Wednesday, at approximately 10.22, human remains including a skull and bone fragments were discovered in a quarry on Vytautavos Street in Vilnius during hill levelling work. The Police Department reported the discovery on Thursday.
A pre-trial investigation has been launched to determine the cause of death.
Two more bodies in Radviliškis district and Panevėžys
Also on Wednesday, at approximately 11.10, the body of a woman born in 1957 was found on Ateities Street in Panevėžys near a residential building. On the same day, at approximately 13.45, the body of a man of unknown identity and age was found near a house in Alksiupiai village in Radviliškis district.
Pre-trial investigations have been launched into both incidents to determine the causes of death.
Box of ammunition found in Kaunas district hangar
On Wednesday, at approximately 16.10, a box containing 213 twelve-gauge cartridges was found in a hangar in Karkiškiai village in Kaunas district. The ammunition was seized, and a pre-trial investigation has been launched into unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition.
"Foxpay" case: court to begin hearing €23m fraud case
On Thursday, Vilnius City District Court was to begin hearing a criminal case relating to the financial technology company "Foxpay". Four individuals, including Vilhelmas Germanas and Mindaugas Navickas, are accused of fraud – obtaining cryptocurrency mining equipment worth more than €23m through deception.
The case hearing was postponed from mid-July to September after representatives of companies in Hong Kong and Portugal were ordered to submit additional documents at the defence's request. Court spokesman Giedrius Janonis stated that Thursday's session was scheduled to review these documents and consider requests from other participants in the proceedings.
Prosecutor Darius Stankevičius from the Office of the Prosecutor General stated in July that the defence was using all available means to delay the hearing. V. Germanas himself stated in mid-July that he had no intention of profiting from cryptocurrency mining.
The case, comprising 109 volumes, was submitted to court in April. V. Germanas is accused of organising a criminal group and possessing forged identity documents from Greece, Portugal and Bulgaria bearing his photograph – documents found during a search in his safe.
In late July, the court extended for six months the arrest of assets relating to V. Germanas's company "Exawatt" – including money, shipping containers and cryptocurrency mining equipment. V. Germanas's bail was increased to €2m, and intensive supervision was extended until 16 November. Supervision conditions were slightly relaxed: he may leave his home between 13.30 and 21.30, but must wear an electronic monitoring device and cannot leave Vilnius.
This case was separated from a broader "Foxpay" pre-trial investigation, which concerns the suspected illegal acquisition of at least €17m in assets and €100,000 in bribes. In 2024, the prosecutor's office indicated that the crimes under investigation include misappropriation of assets, theft, large-scale fraud, bribery and laundering of criminally acquired assets.
Source: Google News LT — Crime (lt)