For the first time in Ukraine, a reward was paid to an exposer of corruption.
The whistleblower turned out to be an active serviceman, who during 2020-2021 was the director of the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In 2021, he filed a statement with the NAPC and reported that he was offered a bribe of UAH 24 million. The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption reported this on October 4.
For this money, the then official had to draw a positive conclusion regarding the work that a certain company carried out on the order of the Ministry of Education. This would allow the company to receive full payment of more than 400 million UAH for the arrangement of the special facility. In addition, this company could qualify for future contracts with the department.
It is noted that in March last year, Dmitry Komakha, the former deputy head of one of the departments of the Ministry of Defense, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in this case. However, then the court refused to reward the whistleblower, since he officially reported the discovered crime within the limits of his official powers, and therefore has no right to a reward.
But at the end of 2023, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court upheld the whistleblower’s appeal and awarded the payment.
This is a fundamental event for the further development of the institution of whistleblowing in Ukraine and the formation of a sustainable culture of whistleblowing. The next case is in line,” emphasized the head of NAPC Viktor Pavluschik.
The Agency noted that so far the courts have made two positive decisions on payments to whistleblowers of corruption. But due to the lack of settlement, it was impossible to ensure payment for a long time.
Let us remember that the possibility of payments to whistleblowers of corruption was introduced back in 2019. According to the law, the whistleblower can receive 10% of the monetary amount of the subject of the corruption crime or the amount of damage caused to the state from the crime after a conviction in court. However, the amount of remuneration cannot exceed three thousand minimum wages established at the time the crime was committed.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.