Gas case: indictment against 8 suspects sent to court
On May 30, 2017, the indictment against eight suspects involved in the so-called "Onyshchenko’s gas scheme" was sent to the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv. During the last three months, the suspects and their defense were reviewing the files of the pre-trial investigation. On May 25, 2017, the review term prescribed by the court ended.
All eight are suspected of committing crimes under Part 1 Article 255, Part 4 Article 28, Part 5 Article 191, Part 4 Article 28, Part 3 Article 209, Part 4 Article 28, Part 2 Article 205, Part 4 Article 28, Part 2 Article 364-1, Part 4 Article 28, Part 2 Article 366, Part 1 Article 388 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The investigation revealed that 27 persons were involved in the "gas scheme". 9 of them were released from criminal responsibility on the basis of plea bargain.
10 more suspects (including a Member of Parliament Oleksandr Onyshchenko who is suspected of creating the corruption scheme) were put on the wanted list.
According to the data received from the Public Joint-Stock Company (PJSC) Ukrgasvydobuvannia, less than a year from the date of termination of agreements of joint operations with the company Limited Liability Company (LLC) Khas, LLC Karpatnadrainvest, LLC Nadra Geocenter (controlled by Oleksandr Onyshchenko), the profit of Ukrgazdobyvannia PJSC reached nearly 1.314 billion UAH, which is two times more than the annual financing of the NABU`s activities.
In comparison almost three years of cooperation with theabovementioned companies brought Ukrgazvydobuvannia UAH 25.158 million of profit only.
It should be reminded that on Dec. 4, 2015, the NABU Detectives started the pre-trial investigation of the criminal proceeding as of the facts of public funds embezzlement while producing and selling gas under joint operation agreements with Ukrgasvydobuvannia. As a result, the public property damage reached nearly UAH3 billion.