Misappropriation of USD 398,000 by ex-ARMA officials: investigation completed

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have completed the investigation into the misappropriation of USD 398,000 previously seized and handed over to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). On July 19, 2022, the case file was disclosed to the defense before its referral to court.

The suspects are:

• the former acting head of ARMA and his deputy - Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• the head of the Asset Management Department of ARMA - Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• two lawyers - Part 3 Art. 27, Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• a natural person - Part 5 Art. 27, Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in August-December 2020, the acting head of ARMA, his deputy, the head of an agency's department in collusion with lawyers and an inpidual took possession of USD 398,000 seized during a search within criminal proceedings and transferred under ARMA's management in accordance with a court decision.

Having forged a court decision on the alleged cancellation of the funds' seizure, the ex-officials illegally transferred them to the bank account of an inpidual who had nothing to do with the money. Then the amount was distributed among the participants in the scheme.

Detectives have been investigating the mentioned facts since August 2021 after the case was transferred to NABU from the State Bureau of Investigation.

The perpetrators were exposed and detained in July 2021.

This is not a single case of corruption within ARMA. In early July 2022, NABU and SAPO exposed a massive seized property sale fraud.

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.