The Special Investigation Service (STT) of Lithuania has announced charges against three members of municipal councils in connection with the 'Chekiukai' case. One of the accused, S. Simė, served on the Palanga City Council from 2019 to 2021 and is suspected of misusing his official position by submitting inaccurate expense reports that falsely inflated his fuel costs, potentially causing a loss of €536 to the municipality. He faces allegations of abuse of power, fraud, and document forgery.

Another council member, M. Lukaševičienė, served on the Ignalina District Council from 2019 to 2023 and is similarly charged with submitting false data in her expense reports, which reportedly resulted in a loss of €1,400 for the Ignalina municipality. The STT's findings highlight issues of corruption and accountability among local officials, suggesting a systemic problem within local governance.

These cases underscore the need for more stringent oversight and monitoring of municipal councils to prevent misuse of public funds. The implications for local governance are significant, as they could lead to calls for reform in expenditure reporting and stricter penalties for misconduct among elected officials.