Corruption in Supreme Court: Owner of Finance and Credit Group, residing in France, notified of suspicion
On August 3, 2023, NABU and SAPO notified the owner of the Finance and Credit Group of suspicion of providing an undue advantage to the head and judges of the Supreme Court in exchange for a decision in his favor in a commercial case. His actions fall under Part 4 of Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Due to the fact that the suspect was in France at the time of the crime and is still there, he was notified of suspicion within the framework of international legal assistance.
According to the investigation, in 2002, he acquired a 40.19% stake in a mining and processing plant from four companies. 18 years later, the former shareholders filed a lawsuit with the commercial court to invalidate the contract of purchase and sale of securities and to regain their shares. However, the court rejected their motion.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal overturned the first instance decision and invalidated the contract for the sale and purchase of securities.
At the beginning of March 2023, to prevent the loss of shares, the suspect conspired with a lawyer from one of the capital's law firms who had connections with the judges of the Supreme Court. In March-April 2023, he transferred USD 2.7 million to the lawyer (USD 1.8 million to the Supreme Court judges, the rest as "payment" for intermediary services).
Finally, in April 2023, the Supreme Court passed a verdict in favor of the businessman. In the course of the investigation, NABU and SAPO documented the transfer and receipt of USD 1.8 million in two tranches.
On May 15, 2023, while receiving the second tranche of USD 450,000, the head of the Supreme Court and the lawyer were caught red-handed.
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.