Minister of Ecology received a notice of suspicion on attempt to bribe NABU and SAPO executives

On June 1, 2020, the Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) gave a notice of suspicion to the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources in the administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych. He is suspected of organizing of attempt to bribe NABU and SAPO executives. In exchange for the improper advantage, the officials had to terminate the case in which the ex-Minister of Ecology is a suspect. The ex-official is suspected of committing crimes under Part 3 Article 27, Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The location of the ex- Minister is being established. He was given a notice of suspicion in accordance with Article 135, Article 278 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (sent by mail to the place of registration of the suspect). 

On June 12, 2020, NABU and SAPO detained three persons, who tried to give an improper advantage in the amount of USD 5 million to the NABU official and the SAPO Head.  In exchange for the improper advantage, the officials had to terminate the case in which the ex-Minister of Ecology is a suspect. In the fall of 2019, the Prosecutor General’s Office sent the case to NABU according to the jurisdiction.

Among the suspects there are:

• First Deputy Head of the Main Department of the State Tax Service of Ukraine (STSU) in Kyiv;
• one of the executives of a group of companies affiliated with the former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the times of the President Yanukovych;
• former Head of one of the Departments of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, a trustee for the Minister of Ecology.

The NABU Detectives had exposed all participants of crime. On June 14-15, 2020, they were given notices of suspicion. The High Anti-Corruption Court selected preventive measures for suspects in a form of temporary custody with alternative bail, the total amount of which exceeded UAH 244 million.

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