If found guilty, Skikas could face up to five years imprisonment and be barred from working in the medical field. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh.

VILNIUS — A Lithuanian health ministry vice minister was arrested Thursday afternoon at his desk by the country’s anti-corruption task force Special Investigation Service.

Ministry of Health Vice Minister Artūras Skikas was arrested at 4 p.m. Thursday by police and is accused of accepting a 20,000 litai (€5,790) bribe from a co-worker. Police said Skikas will be held for at least 48 hours for questioning. No other arrests in the case have been made.

“It is very unpleasant. I am embarrassed,” Minister of Health Algis Čaplikas told the press Friday.

If found guilty, Skikas could face up to five years imprisonment and be barred from working in the medical field.

Skikas has held the vice minister post for eight months. Previously he worked as the director of the Sveikatos Darna private clinic in Šilutė.

Prime minister praises task force

In a statement this morning, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius praised the work of the Special Investigation Service and said Skikas’ case would serve as a good example of the consequences of accepting bribes.

“The Vice Minister Artūras Skikas case shows that there is no impunity. I congratulate the Special Investigation Service’s determination to examine the highest-ranking public officials, of course, if the investigation proves the vice minister’s guilt,” Kubilius said in a statement to the press.

Kubilius declared earlier this week that fighting corruption was top priority at the annual meeting with the president to lay out the government’s plans for the year.