VILNIUS, February 1 - RAPSI, Irina Pavlova. The Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office and Financial Crime Investigation Service have searched the office of Lietuvos Dujos natural gas supplier, in which Russia's Gazprom holds a 37.1% stake, and have taken other procedural actions in this regard, the Prosecutor General's Office has announced.
The company is suspected of fraud and of submitting falsified documents to the National Control Commission for Prices and Energy. In particular, prosecutors have questions concerning the gas prices Lietuvos Dujos set for 2013. The investigation so far concerns only one case of fraud. The company's management has not been interrogated, as there is no information about their possible involvement.
Notifications were sent to two Lietuvos Dujos employees in November 2012 stating that they were suspected of involvement in fraud. "The mildest possible measure - recognizance not to leave - has been taken against them. They are still working at the company. They are suspected of falsifying documents that could be used for setting consumer gas prices for 2013," Prosecutor Ugnius Vicinas told journalists.
Spokesman for the Financial Crime Investigation Service Renatas Pocius said they would not take any action to recalculate consumer gas prices until the courts have ruled over whether it was fraud.
Gas prices in Lithuania for 2013 have been reduced by 8 cents to 2.08 Litas or 60 euro cents per cubic meter.
Gazprom owns a 37.1-percent stake in Lietuvos dujos, while Germany's E.On Ruhrgas holds a 38.9-percent stake, the Lithuanian State Property Fund owns 17.7 percent and other individuals and entities own a 6.3-percent stake.
Lietuvos dujos will have to be divided by areas of activity by October 31, 2014.