NABU detains wanted ex-Kyiv court judge

On Aug. 3, 2021, NABU detained Kyiv's Dniprovskyi District Court ex-judge, who has been wanted since 2016 and is suspected of taking a USD 150,000 bribe. The fugitive was found at Kyiv's Feofaniia Hospital and put under round-the-clock house arrest by the HACC already the next day.

This became possible after the Security Service of Ukraine finally complied with the lawful requirements of NABU Detectives and unveiled the judge's whereabouts. Prior to that, for almost six days - from July 30, 2021 - the SBU ignored NABU's requirements and illegally hid the ex-judge.

As reported, the ex-judge of the Dniprovskyi District Court of Kyiv is suspected of committing a crime under Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Accepting an offer, promise or receiving an improper advantage by an official”). On Aug. 9, 2016, he was exposed by NABU accepting an improper advantage in the amount of USD 150 thousand for passing an illegal court decision.

On Sep. 6, 2016, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine sanctioned his detention and prosecution. But the suspect managed to flee the country taking advantage of his judicial immunity.

On Sep. 12, 2016, the suspect was put on the national wanted list. On Nov. 11, 2016, he was placed on Interpol's international wanted list.

In Feb. 2017, the ex-judge was detained in Moldova, while NABU requested his extradition.

In April 2021, the fugitive was kidnapped in Chisinau. His whereabouts had been unknown until July 2021, when the ex-judge emerged in a village in Vinnytsia region.

On July 30, SBU officers arrived at the scene and transported the ex-judge to their headquarters in Kyiv, thus breaching the Ukrainian criminal legislation - in accordance with Part 1 Art. 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, an authorized official is obliged to deliver the detainee to the nearest office of a pre-trial investigation body. NABU managed to identify the vehicles used to transport the wanted ex-judge, but the SBU refused to fulfill the lawful demands of the Detectives to stop and hand over the suspect.

On Aug. 1, NABU filed a motion with the HACC to apply a measure of restraint in the form of detention against the ex-judge.

During Aug. 1-2, NABU sent two requests to the SBU and PGO for immediate delivery of the ex-judge to the National Bureau and to the HACC, which were ignored.
 

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.