Receipt of undue advantage by Chornomorsk Sea Port head: case sent to court

On July 4, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) filed an indictment to the High Anti-Corruption Court in respect of the former acting head of SE "Commercial Sea Port "Chornomorsk" and his accomplice charged with receiving an undue advantage of USD 250,000. Actions of the former fall under Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and the latter - under Part 5 Art. 27, Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As established, the head of the state enterprise received money for the approval of a rehabilitation plan for a bankrupt private company. However, attracting an investor for a bankrupt private company required the approval of the creditors' committee, in which the state enterprise had the majority of votes. So, when the official felt the seriousness of the intentions of one of the investors, he requested a "loyalty" fee of USD 250,000.

The seaport head acted through an intermediary, a representative of another creditor of a private company, who received the undue advantage for its further transfer to the official.

Both were exposed red-handed on Dec. 10, 2020. The next day they were notified of suspicion. In September 2021, NABU and SAPO completed the investigation.

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.