NABU completes investigation in Kyiv City Council bribery case

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have completed an investigation of a current deputy of the Kyiv City Council and other persons exposed taking UAH 1.39 million in undue benefit. On June 17, 2022, the case file was disclosed for review before being referred to court.

The suspects are:

• the deputy of the Kyiv City Council (chairman of a Kyiv City Council standing commission);
• a deputy aide;
• the director of a utility company;
• a deputy director of a utility company;
• a deputy director of a utility company;
• a person close to the deputy.

The actions of the deputy fall under Part 4 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and the actions of the other five suspects - under Part 5 Article 27 Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation believes that the Kyiv City Council deputy, in collusion with close associates and officials of utility companies, organized a corruption scheme to receive illegal benefits from entrepreneurs for the right to place seasonal mobile trade points in the capital.

Despite the fact that the right to place such outlets was granted as a result of open bidding, potential participants were informed that only pre-determined companies could win for a fee.

The bidding was organized by a utility company influenced by the deputy as he chaired the commission responsible for the improvement of the capital. This post allowed him to initiate decisions on both the demolition of outlets and the removal of obstacles to their work.

The investigation had been documenting the criminal activities for almost a year. NABU recorded talks on seven locations in different districts of the capital (Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, etc.) and the transfer of UAH 1.39 million in two tranches. During the receipt of the second tranche - UAH 1.26 million, the participants of the scheme were caught red-handed.

Given the public response, NABU published an operational video of the talks between the scheme participants. The collected materials are part of the evidence base revealing vested interests in the organization of trade in the capital.

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.