For six months of 2019, more persons were exposed on corruption than during 2018 — presentation of a report on NABU and SAPO activities

For six months of 2019, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) gave notices of suspicion to 84 persons. Indictments as of 76 people were sent to court. These figures indicate that the second half of 2019 was a period of intensification of NABU and SAPO work. It also indicates the transformation of the achievements of previous years into results.This was stated by NABU Director Artem Sytnyk and SAPO Head Nazar Kholodnitskiy at the briefing “Presentation of the Report on the NABU and SAPO results during the second half of 2019” on February 7, 2020.

“In my opinion, for the first time in recent years, law enforcement agencies have joined their efforts to expose top-corruption. There are examples of effective cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, and the National Police of Ukraine. A positive trend is that the newly appointed Heads of state authorities become whistleblowers,” Artem Sytnyk said. He reminded the recent exposure of corruption schemes in the State Property Fund of Ukraine and the State Reserve Agency of Ukraine.

Thanks to the effective cooperation of NABU Detectives and SAPO Prosecutors, the number of exposed corruption crimes has increased. According to SAPO Head, in the second half of 2019, more than 670 criminal proceedings were started, and the number of cases sent to courts reached almost 40.

“The fact that the High Anti-Corruption Court (HAAC) started its work has also affected the increase in the activity of anti-corruption agencies. The HAAC judges consider corruption offenses committed by top officials. The society in the nearest future expects the first sentences”, said Nazar Kholodnitskiy, the SAPO Head.

As of the end of 2019, 245 cases as of 438 persons investigated by NABU and SAPO are under trial in courts. The total amount of losses in the completed investigations exceeds UAH 10 billion. In the framework of the cases sent to court, more than UAH 273 million were refunded to the State.