Explanation of reports about the investigation regarding the SAPO Head
Responding to media inquiries and in order to prevent speculations regarding the investigation against the Deputy Prosecutor General, the Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, we are noting the following information.
The Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), as part of a joint group with the investigators of the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), for a certain period of time indeed have carried out investigative actions in the framework of a criminal proceeding registered by the PGO on alleged offenses by the SAPO Head.
The data obtained as a result of the undercover investigative actions, which were authorized by the court, give reason to assume that there might be grounds in the actions of the SAPO Head for bringing him to criminal and disciplinary liability. It is important to note that the issue of bringing the SAPO Head to criminal responsibility falls within competence of the PGO as a body of pre-trial investigation in the said criminal proceeding. Regarding the possibility of disciplinary offenses in the actions by the Chief Anticorruption Prosecutor, the NABU Director, Artem Sytnyk, sent a complaint to the Qualification Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors on March 30, 2018.
We stress that the revealed signs of potential disciplinary misconduct and violations by the SAPO Head in no way characterize the work of the body headed by him. Therefore, we emphasize that the situation surrounding the SAPO Head does not stop the cooperation between detectives and procedural heads in criminal proceedings that are being investigated by NABU. We remind that currently NABU detectives are investigating around 500 cases, procedural guidance in which is carried out by the SAPO prosecutors.
We urge media representatives to be responsible regarding the information that you report. We assure that the actions of NABU in this situation were legal and justified, and that they were aimed at protecting the legitimate interests of society.
NABU will provide more details when possible.
Thank you for your understanding.