print version

Ex-President's Office deputy head case: new charges (PHOTOS)

NABU and SAPO have served charges on a former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (2019–2024), involved in the laundering of illegally obtained funds and receiving a bribe. The suspect is already being prosecuted by NABU and SAPO for illicit enrichment in the amount of UAH 15.7 million.

Money laundering

As established, between 2019 and 2021, the suspect illegally obtained cash funds and decided to launder them by building private houses with a total area of over 300 square meters in a recreational area in the Odesa region. To disguise these actions, he approached the beneficial owner of a company that owned land on the seashore and gave nearly UAH 6.5 million for the construction of the properties. The completed real estate, which the top official started to use, was initially registered under the company. However, after he was served with a notice of suspicion in May 2024, ownership was re-registered to a trusted associate.

Undue advantage

Detectives also found that in 2022, the top official was approached by the owner of a construction company with an offer of a bribe in the form of work and services worth USD 100,000 for the construction of one of the aforementioned houses on the coast. In return, the top official was asked to facilitate a decision by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine to cancel the results of a tender won by a competitor and to ensure that the businessman’s company won the new tender. The top official agreed, abused his position, and fulfilled his commitments. The AMCU subsequently issued the “necessary” decision.

The following persons have been notified of suspicion:

  • the former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (2019–2024) – Part 1 Article 368-5, Part 1 and 2 Article 209, Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
  • the owner of the construction company – Part 1 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation is ongoing, with other potentially involved individuals being identified.

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.

Read also