KDAC Head close relative suspected of submitting false data to e-declaration

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have notified an ex-official of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (he is also a lawyer) of suspicion of submitting misstatements to his e-declaration. The actions of the suspect fall under Part 2 Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

On Sept. 17, 2021, the Prosecutor General signed a notice of suspicion.

Earlier, the same person had already been served with a notice suspicion of committing another crime - inciting the offer of an undue benefit to Kyiv District Administrative Court (KDAC) judges. As established, the suspect and his accomplice (another lawyer) promised to secure a positive decision in a case considered by a KDAC judge through the KDAC Head for USD 100 thousand.

In April, 2021, NABU and SAPO exposed the lawyers. During the searches, items resembling antiques and documents addressed to the KDAC Head and his close relative were found. Besides, a large amount of foreign cash - over USD 3.7 million, EUR 840 thousand, GBP 20 thousand, UAH 230 thousand, and 100 new shekels - was found.

The investigation believes that the ex-official is the actual owner of the apartment where the undue benefit was found. However, the apartment as well as the cash found there by NABU are not stated in his asset declaration for 2020.

It is worth mentioning that only after the liability for misstatements in e-declarations was reinstated, NABU and SAPO regained their right to issue suspicion notices to those who fail to declare their assets and income in full. All previous cases into misstatements by officials had been closed after the infamous decision by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. This suspicion notice is the first to be served by NABU and SAPO after the reinstatement of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered non-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.