Lithuanian MP, major business group under investigation for alleged bribery

Lithuania's special investigations service (STT) has launched a probe on Thursday in regard to an alleged large-scale corruption and influence-peddling case into one of the largest Lithuanian business conglomerates and a member of parliament.

According to STT data, representatives of a local business offered a bribe of around 100,000 euros (113,795 U.S. dollars) to Eligijus Masiulis, member of Parliament from the Lithuanian Liberal Movement, in exchange for his favor.

STT spokesperson Ruslanas Golubovas confirmed to local media that the business was MG Baltic.

On Thursday, STT officers conducted searches at the workplaces of MG Baltic conglomerate's president Darius Mockus and deputy president Raimondas Kurlianskis, as well as Masiulis' house, car, workplace and the headquarters of the Liberal Movement.

The board of the Liberal Movement will hold a meeting on Friday to decide whether Masiulis, who is also a chairman of the party, may continue his duties within the party.

MG Baltic is a group of companies engaged in retail and wholesale, logistics, manufacturing, media, real estate development and management, construction and telecommunications industries. It was founded in 1992, when Lithuania's newly re-established market economy was taking its first steps.