NABU exposed official on the offer of a bribe to the State Reserve Agency Head

On January 31, 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) jointly with the officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (the SSU) exposed the Head of one of the Departments of the State Reserve Agency of Ukraine (SRAU). He was detained on giving USD 40 thousand of improper advantage to the SRAU Head.

On February 1, 2020, NABU gave a notice of suspicion to the detainee. He is suspected of committing crimes under Part 4 Article 368, Part 4 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

On February 2, 2020, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine selected a preventive measure for the suspect in a form of temporary custody with UAH 2.102 million alternative bail.

The investigation revealed that during November 2019 - January 2020 the Head of the Department of SRAU incited the Heads of companies under the management of SRAU to give bribes to the SRAU Head. In exchange, he promised them the retention of positions and assistance from the SRAU executives in their further activities.

Realizing that this plan could be organized only with the participation of the SRAU Head, the suspect tried to persuade him to receive funds from the Heads of the mentioned enterprises. After receiving the "offer", the SRAU Head informed the law enforcement agencies to start an investigation.

The law enforcement officers have recorded several facts of the receipt an improper advantage from entrepreneurs by the suspect for allegedly further transfer to the SRAU Head. Moreover, the suspect kept 20% of this amount as a fee for the “service”. He was exposed on the transferring of one of these tranches.

NABU, the SSU and SAPO started a pre-trial investigation as of these facts in December 2019 based on an application filed by the SRAU Head. The investigative actions are in progress. Other persons involved in the commission of a crime are being established.

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.