Forest corruption: ex-Regional State Administration deputy head faces charges
NABU and SAPO have charged a former deputy head of the Regional State Administration with soliciting a bribe for ensuring a long-term lease of a forest plot to a private company.
In early 2024, a private company sought to lease a 19-hectare forest plot for recreational purposes. After several formal requests to the Regional State Administration were rejected, the company's representative received an offer from the RSA deputy head. He requested USD 200,000 for securing the lease, which he repeated in May and June.
At the end of May 2024, the official said the head of the Regional State Administration had approved the lease and the documents were ready for signing.
The actions of the suspect fall under Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
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.