Investigation into Rada committee ex-chairman completed

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have completed the investigation of a Ukrainian MP of the III-VIII convocations suspected of taking undue advantage and money laundering. On Sept. 13, 2022, the case file was disclosed to the defense for review. The actions of the suspect fall under Part 4 Art. 368 and Part 2 Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As established, in July 2014, the MP received from the Czech company SKODA JS a.s. (part of United Machine-Building Plants holding owned by russia's Gazprombank) an undue advantage in the amount of EUR 311,600 for promoting its interests in Ukraine.

The undue advantage was transferred under the pretext of payment for agency services under the cooperation agreement concluded between SKODA JS a.s. and a Cypriot company affiliated with the MP. Further on, the money was laundered through a series of transactions involving a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Shortly after, the funds ended up in the account of a company also registered in Cyprus and owned by the lawmaker.

The investigation has established that the company's accounts were used to pay for education, recreation, housing rental abroad, and other personal needs of the suspect and his relatives.

NABU began investigating the above facts based on information provided by law enforcement agencies of the Czech Republic, which discovered suspicious transactions of SKODA JS a.s.

Thanks to international cooperation with the competent authorities of the Czech Republic and Cyprus, as well as materials obtained in Ukraine, NABU and SAPO gathered enough evidence to notify the former MP of suspicion.

As for the employees of SKODA JS a.s., the law enforcement authorities of the Czech Republic brought charges against 6 employees of this company (the criminal case is at the trial stage).

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.