NABU and SAPO completed a pre-trial investigation as of three persons, who tried to give an improper advantage to the NABU official and the SAPO Head. On December 1, 2020, the suspects and the defense had been granted with access to criminal proceeding for review.
Among the suspects there are:
- First Deputy Head of the Main Department of the State Tax Service of Ukraine (STSU) in Kyiv - Part 5 Article 27, Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
- one of the executives of a group of companies affiliated with the former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources - Part 5 Article 27, Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
- Former Head of one of the Departments of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, a trustee for the Minister of Ecology - Part 5 Article 27, Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The location of the organizer of the crime - ex-Minister (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is being established. Thus, the case as of the ex-Minister is investigated separately.
In June 2020, the NABU Detectives detained three persons, who tried to give an improper advantage in the amount of USD 5 million to NABU and SAPO executives. In exchange for the improper advantage, the officials had to terminate the case in which the ex-Minister of Ecology is a suspect. In the fall of 2019, the Prosecutor General’s Office sent the case to NABU according to the jurisdiction. The High Anti-Corruption Court selected preventive measures for suspects in a form of temporary custody with alternative bail.
On June 3, 2020, the criminal proceeding as of the facts of attempt to bribe the NABU and SAPO executives was registered. Only 9 days have passed since the moment when the criminal plan became known, until the moment of detentions. The hasty actions of people trying to give a bribe were connected with the approach of the day of birth of ex-Minister.
For reference:
The case in which the improper advantage was offered concerns possible involvement of the ex-minister in the embezzlement and further legalization of the stabilization loan funds granted by the National Bank of Ukraine to the PJSC “Real Bank”. At the time of committing a crime, the “Real Bank” was controlled by a criminal organization with the involvement of officials in the administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych. A number of persons, including the former minister, were given notices of suspicion.
According to Part 1 Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine a person is considered not-guilty in commission of a crime and cannot be a subject to criminal punishment, until he or she is found guilty by the court.
