Jeffrey Epstein transferred at least €152,000 in 25 payments from 2008 to Lithuanian bank accounts at SEB, Swedbank, and the then-DNB, according to data released by the United States Department of Justice.
Most of the published documents have been anonymised, and searches are limited due to text formatting, meaning not all transactions may have been included in the overview compiled by LRT.lt.
The purpose of, or justification for, the payments remains unclear. The Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor’s Office this week launched a pre-trial investigation following the release of the data by the US Department of Justice.
Further reading
€5,000 for a ‘ballerina’
The largest sums transferred by Epstein to Lithuania are linked to events organiser Valdas Petreikis, who announced this week that he was ending his activities because of the scandal.
In January 2017, €75,000 was transferred to his company Fors Projektai. In April 2018, Epstein’s foundation transferred €15,000 to Petreikis’s public institution Baleto teatras, followed by a further €18,000 in September.
All other sums transferred to bank accounts in Lithuania did not exceed €5,000.
In April 2016, Epstein instructed that €5,000 be transferred to a “ballerina” who had provided her SEB bank account details.
“I am sending you my bank account details. I am very moved… It is not enough just to say thank you… Jeffrey, your kindness is endless. Will we talk?” she wrote when providing her details.
A further €5,000 was transferred to an SEB bank account or accounts in December 2016 and June 2017.
Epstein was required to explain a €5,000 transfer made in February 2018 to a Swedbank account.
Among the published documents is correspondence between a Deutsche Bank employee and Epstein’s personal accountant, Richard Kahn, regarding two payments made to Lithuania and Russia.
“Our compliance team periodically asks about certain transactions. Please respond regarding the transfers listed below and the related questions. Thank you,” the inquiry states.
Kahn replied: “The purpose of both transfers was money for the school of two old friends. Thank you. If you have questions, please call.”
Although most of the documents have been anonymised, in some cases this was done poorly. For example, one payment of €1,000 made by Epstein in March 2016 is shown as having been intended for a well-known Lithuanian violinist.
In 2018, in correspondence with his personal accountant, Epstein instructed that €1,000 be transferred to another Lithuanian woman who provided a Lithuanian Swedbank account.
All other transfers show no distinctive features, differing only in dates and amounts.
The first payment was made in January 2008, when €2,000 was transferred to an SEB account. In August 2009, a further €3,000 was transferred to another SEB account.
In 2015, Epstein topped up Swedbank customer accounts in Lithuania four times. In March, he instructed that €2,500 be sent; in August, €1,000 and €500; and in October, a further €1,000.
In 2016, payments to the then DNB bank appeared for the first time. Two payments of €1,000 each were made in May and July.
During the same period, Epstein made two further transfers to SEB: €2,000 in July 2016 and €3,000 in April 2017.
In 2017, the final payment to DNB was made, with Epstein transferring €2,500 to an account there in June.
In 2018 and 2019, Swedbank accounts were topped up at least four more times on Epstein’s instructions: €1,500 in June 2018; $4,500 in December; €500 in March 2019; and €202 in June.
The last payment approved by Epstein stands out not only for its small amount but also for its stated purpose.
Documents suggest it covered the cost of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) language exam.
Digging ongoing
Last week, the US Department of Justice released three million documents and said these represented all records related to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Survivors of sexual abuse, lawmakers and human rights advocates have criticised the department for continuing to withhold some documents.
The latest release of the Epstein files has prompted a strong reaction in Lithuania. After links to the sex offender emerged, Valdas and Simona Petreikiai withdrew from public life.
Internet forums are also discussing more than a dozen other Lithuanians mentioned in the documents.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
