Member of Parliament was given a notice of suspicion of receiving an improper advantage

On September 17, 2020, NABU under the procedural guidance of the prosecutors of SAPO gave a notice of suspicion to the acting Member of Parliament of Ukraine (also known as the Member of the Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services). He is suspected of receiving an improper advantage and using of legitimate powers and responsibilities (Part 4 Article 368 and Part 4 Article 27 Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The Prosecutor General signed a notice of suspicion.

 

In summer 2020, the National Bureau received information about the existence of an organized group, whose members received an improper advantage for abuse the office by the MPs. In order to identify all the members of the organized criminal group and promptly documentation of their activities, the National Bureau started an undercover operation to embed the undercover NABU Detective to the organized criminal group.

Within the operation, the undercover Detective pretending a representative of an industrial company met one of the criminal group members. During the meeting, they discussed the condition for investing in Ukraine and the necessary legal grounds for processing solid household waste. 

Afterword the participant in the crime introduces the Detective to the MP who in subtle forms asked to pass USD 13 thousand of improper advantage through an intermediary for submitting proposals to the Law. Furtherer he asked to pass USD 200 thousand to bribe the MPs - members of the Parliament Committee.

In middle of August, the undercover Detective gave the first part of the improper advantage to the intermediary. On August 26-27, the crime participants planned to receive another part of the funds. Thus, the National Bureau was forced to terminate the undercover operation.

On September 10, 2020, a person-intermediary (unofficial assistant of the acting MP) was given a notice of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The draft notice of suspicion of the MS's actions was sent to the PGO.

However, the notice of  suspicion was signed on September 16, 2020, only.

On September 15, the High Anti-Corruption Court made a decision on a preventive measure for a person-intermediary in a form of temporary custody with UAH 1.052 million alternative bail.

 

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.

 

Video of NABU exposed a criminal group led by the Member of Parliament