Ex-MP was given a notice of suspicion of receiving illegal cash compensation payments

On May 18, 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 Member of Parliament (MP) of the VIII convocation. He is suspected of receiving illegal cash compensation payments for rental housing. His actions are qualified under Part 2 Article 364 (Abuse of authority or office) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation revealed that during November 2014 - August 2019, the ex-MP illegally received from the state budget compensation payment in the amount of UAH 937 thousand for renting a room in the “Kyiv” Hotel. At the same time, he had his own apartment in the center of Kyiv. It should be noted that the abovementioned person is also a suspect in the case as of the facts of 20 million USD embezzlement of the “State Savings Bank of Ukraine”.

The NABU Detectives started a pre-trial investigation as of the abovementioned facts in October 2018.

In general, due to the NABU investigations over UAH 1.65 million of the compensation payments illegally received by the Members of Parliament of the VIII convocation was returned to the State. In addition, a number of the MPs revised their need for compensation and refused it. As a result, taking into account the amount of the monthly compensation payments, during December 2018 — January 2019, the Office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine saved about UAH 4 million.

According to Part 1 Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine a person is considered not-guilty in commission of a crime and cannot be a subject to criminal punishment, until he or she is found guilty by the court.