O. Sakalauskienė is the only one out of a large group of convicted lawyers to receive a real prison sentence. The Kaunas Regional Court found Druskininkai mayor Ričardas Malinauskas guilty of a corruption-related crime, imposing a €60,000 fine and ordering the recovery of €30,000. While the court noted that Sakalauskienė had no prior criminal record and had a family and job, her essential role in the criminal activities was significant enough to warrant a prison sentence. Her actions aimed at deriving financial benefits from illegal activities led the court to conclude that alternative penalties would not satisfy the objectives of punishment.

Sakalauskienė was sentenced for 11 counts of intentional corrupt acts, including bribery and influence peddling. Following the first instance ruling, she has lodged an appeal with the Lithuanian Court of Appeals in Vilnius, seeking to overturn the verdict. If her request is not granted, she faces the prospect of a prison term, which adds to the high stakes involved in this case and its implications for public trust in local governance and the legal system in Lithuania.