MP suspected of bribery for leasing state-owned land (VIDEO+PHOTOS)
On August 8, 2023, NABU and SAPO, in cooperation with the SSU, exposed a Member of Parliament and two of his accomplices (one of them is his assistant) receiving USD 85,000 in undue advantage. His actions fall under Article 368, Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the MP (who is also the chairman of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the investigation of corruption at state-owned enterprises, institutions, and organizations of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine) offered an entrepreneur the opportunity to obtain land for cultivation. The land was within the jurisdiction of state-owned enterprises. The lawmaker estimated his services at USD 130 per hectare of land.
As a result of the reached agreements, the allocation of 1,700 hectares of arable land stipulated the provision of USD 221,000 in undue advantage. Moreover, USD 85,000 was to be an "advance" and transferred before the start of land cultivation. During the transfer of the "advance", the lawmaker and his two accomplices were caught red-handed. On the same day, the MP was notified of suspicion.
The investigation into these facts was initiated at the request of the entrepreneur who had to provide an undue advantage.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered not-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.
