Chairman of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Knyazev and a lawyer exposed for receiving 2.7 million dollars. improper benefit, reported suspicion.
The press service of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on the evening of May 16 reported that it was part 4 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code (bribery of a person providing public services) of Ukraine.
Recall, on the eve of NABU and SAP exposed the suspects “hot”. The money was transferred to the head of the Armed Forces in exchange for decisions in favor of one of the Ukrainian businessmen. It was possible to identify the scheme thanks to the penetration of an undercover NABU detective into the criminal group.
The episode with the “reward” for the chairman of the Supreme Court, according to the NABU version, is connected with the adoption of a decision by the court in the interests of the owner of the Finance and Credit group.
NABU today published fragments of listening to the conversations of lawyers involved in corrupt deals.
According to the investigation, in 2002, a Ukrainian businessman (talking about Konstantin Zhevago – “Rakurs”) acquired 40.19% of the shares of the mining and processing plant (hereinafter – GOK) from four companies (hereinafter – former auctioneers).
Eighteen years later, the former shareholders filed a lawsuit with the economic court in order to invalidate the securities purchase and sale agreement and return the GOK shares to themselves. However, the court rejected the claims.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the first instance and invalidated the contract for the sale of securities.
In order to prevent the loss of shares, at the beginning of March 2023, the businessman entered into an agreement with a lawyer from one of the capital’s lawyer associations, who had connections with judges of the Supreme Court. During March-April 2023, he transferred 2.7 million dollars to the lawyer. (1.8 million dollars – to the judges of the Supreme Court, the rest – as a “payment” for mediation services).
In April 2023, the Supreme Court made a decision in favor of the businessman. In the course of investigative actions, NABU and SAPO documented the transfer and receipt of $2.6 million in two tranches.
Upon receipt of the second tranche of 450 thousand dollars. On May 15, 2023, the chairman of the Supreme Court Knyazeva and the lawyer were exposed “on hot”.
The press service of Konstantin Zhevago claims that he has nothing to do with bribing the chairman or judges of the Supreme Court, as stated by the leadership of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Knyazev expressed no confidence in the Plenum of the Supreme Court.
Source: Racurs
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