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In the case concerning tire thefts from the company Ovigreta, the court not only found Gytis Šapola, a resident of Molėtai previously acquitted, guilty but also fundamentally revised the distribution of penalties, damage compensation, and procedural costs.

The Panevėžys Regional Court concluded that the court of first instance unjustifiably ignored video recordings and SMS messages proving the joint action of G. Šapola and Irmantas Persijanovas in stealing property from the company where they were employed.

The court overturned the acquittal of G. Šapola and established that the thefts from Ovigreta, a company operating in the Molėtai district, were carried out systematically through the cooperation of both defendants. Following a comprehensive examination of video footage and witness testimony, the court found both men guilty; however, Irmantas Persijanovas was released from liability under bail for a term of one year.

The judicial panel, having reviewed dozens of video clips, identified the defendants' operational scheme. In late 2022, G. Šapola and I. Persijanovas systematically removed new rims and tires from the company warehouse, loaded them into their vehicles, and transported them off the company premises. One piece of evidence is a recording showing I. Persijanovas, after loading stolen goods into a car, giving a "thumbs up" sign to G. Šapola, who was standing on the company balcony – a confirmation that the operation was successful.

The visual evidence of the crimes was supplemented by their SMS correspondence. In these messages, the defendants planned and coordinated the thefts, discussing specific tire models, quantities, and logistics. The judicial panel noted that the recordings and testimonies confirm the defendants acted in concert: while one physically transported the goods, the other coordinated the process, deleted compromising sales advertisements from the office computer, and sought buyers by falsely claiming the items were purchased from other suppliers.

Upon finding G. Šapola guilty, the court imposed a 3,000 euro fine, ordered to be paid within six months. Although he had no prior criminal record, committing the offense as part of a group of accomplices was recognized as an aggravating circumstance. The court noted that the fine is an adequate penalty for an individual who organized and coordinated the sale of stolen goods through his private garage.

The other defendant, I. Persijanovas – who fully confessed from the start of the investigation, expressed remorse, and assisted in identifying his accomplice – was released from criminal liability under bail. The court entrusted his supervision to his father, determining that the guarantor is trustworthy and capable of exerting a positive influence on his son.

The Regional Court clarified the damages caused to Ovigreta. Considering that some of the stolen rims were recovered and returned to the company, both defendants were ordered to pay 4,334.40 euros in joint and several liability to compensate for the employer's material loss. The court also overturned the first-instance decision requiring the state to pay for G. Šapola’s defense costs. Instead, it ordered the defendants to cover Ovigreta's legal expenses, totaling nearly 3,000 euros.

The only episode for which the acquittal remained in force involved the alleged theft of a welding machine. The court established that the model found in G. Šapola’s garage did not match the company’s records, and an inventory check showed no shortage.

The verdict of the Panevėžys Regional Court takes effect from the day of its announcement.

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