One of two former shareholders of a collapsed Lithuanian bank who were convicted of large-scale fraud in absentia is living in Moscow, according to media reports.
Raimondas Baranauskas, a former shareholder of Snoras bank, is believed to be living in a residential tower block in the west of the Russian capital, around eight kilometres from the city centre, according to the Lithuanian news portal Delfi, which cited sources in Russia.
Delfi said it reached Baranauskas' wife, Sigita, by telephone. She said the couple live modestly, renting a flat and owning no car. She also said her husband had no intention of admitting guilt, as he committed no crime.
"No matter how we live here, we will never confess because it simply did not happen," she told the portal.
Baranauskas and fellow former Snoras shareholder Vladimir Antonov were sentenced in absentia by a Lithuanian court last November to 10.5 years in prison each for large-scale embezzlement. Both men were convicted of eight intentional crimes. They were ordered to pay more than 375 million euros in damages, and face the confiscation of a further 105 million euros in assets. European Arrest Warrants have been issued for both men.
Lithuania's Court of Appeal began hearing their appeals this week. Antonov, who was extradited from France in May, appeared before the court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty, requesting to begin serving his sentence immediately.
Baranauskas did not attend the hearing.
His wife dismissed the significance of Antonov's confession. "His confession does not concern us," she said.
Snoras, once one of Lithuania's largest banks, collapsed in 2011. Total damages to creditors are reported to amount to nearly 467 million euros, with more than 509 million euros in assets alleged to have been misappropriated.
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