NABU completed investigation as of suspect involved in the UAH 787 million public funds embezzlement

The Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) completed the pre-trial investigation as of the Director of one of the private companies involved in UAH 787 million of public funds embezzlement of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). The investigation revealed that he acted as a member of a criminal organization created by the Former President of Ukraine.

The actions of the suspect are qualified under Part 1 Article 255, Part 4 Article 28, Part 5 Article 191, Part 4 Article 28 Part 2 Article 255, Part 4 Article 28 Part 2 Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. On August 19, 2020, the suspect and his defense had been granted with access to the materials of the investigation. Then the indictment will be drawn up and sent to court.

The investigation revealed that in 2013 the private company (LLC), headed by the suspect, was involved in a corrupt scheme, as a result of which the abovementioned criminal organization embezzled more than UAH 787 million of stabilization loan provided by the NBU to "Real Bank" PJSC. This scheme was implemented as follows: in September 2013, PJSC Real Bank provided loans to a number of companies controlled by the criminal organization. These companies, through a number of fictitious companies, transferred the funds to the accounts of the other two companies. One of them was abovementioned LLC. Then this LLC invests these funds on a term deposit of "Real Bank" PJSC under the guise of its own and temporarily free. These funds were invested with the possibility of early termination of the contract and withdrawal of funds within five working days from the date of application.

A month later, in October 2013, the bank's executives organized an application for early termination of the deposit agreement and further withdrawal of funds. The suspect as the Director of LLC signed this application. This situation became a formal basis for the application of "Real Bank" PJSC for support to the NBU. The NBU provided him UAH 800 million of stabilization loan secured by the real estate. The investigation revealed that the criminal organization overpriced value of the pledged property.

The executives of Real Bank PJSC, in cooperation with other participants of the criminal organization, withdrew the funds received from the NBU through a number of fictitious and non-resident companies. The funds were legalized and withdrawn in cash.

The investigation of these facts was started in November 2019 after the transfer of the case to NABU according to the investigation jurisdiction. Two months later, NABU and SAPO established the location of the Director of the LLC. He was detained. In January 2020, the High Anti-Corruption Court arrested him. The suspect is currently being in custody. 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.