The National Anti-Corruption Bureau confirms that Konstantin Zhevago, co-owner of the Finance and Credit financial and industrial group and owner of Vorskla, is involved in the bribery case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev and other judges of the Supreme Court, although it does not name them.
Konstantin ZhevagoSource: NABU Director Semen Kryvonos at a joint briefing with the SAPO on the exposed scheme of obtaining illegal benefits by the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court, NABU website
Details: At the briefing, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos said that the bureau had received information about "the activities of a criminal group involving intermediaries, judges, and the leadership of the judiciary".
The NABU decided to carry out an "operational penetration" and act with the help of an "undercover detective".
Krivonos' direct statement: "As a result of a set of measures, we recorded a number of contacts between the owner of the Finance and Credit group and one of the owners of a law firm that was used to cover up criminal activity... They agreed to transfer an undue benefit to high-ranking court officials for making a decision that was necessary for this entrepreneur.
A few days after the contact was established, on 15 March, a hearing was to be held on the case, which was the subject of discussion. As a result of a previous agreement, the hearing was postponed to allow more time to accumulate certain funds and reach agreements...
On 19 April, the Supreme Court had already made a decision - and after that, in fact, in early May, a lawyer, a member of this criminal group, received instructions from the leadership of the Supreme Court to distribute this unlawful benefit among the members of the criminal group - judges.
On 3 May, the first part of this unlawful benefit was received in the amount of - let's call it the first tranche, and on 15 May, yesterday, the second part was transferred, which was recorded - the leadership of the Supreme Court was caught red-handed."
Details: The NABU Director said that during urgent investigative actions, searches at the suspects' residences and workplaces, a significant amount of money was seized, and evidence was obtained that further confirms the activities of this criminal organisation.
The unlawful benefit of about USD 2.7 million for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a lawyer may be part of a broader scheme of corrupt pressure on the courts, according to the NABU and the SAPO.
The anti-corruption agencies also showed audio recordings of conversations between the defendants. The preliminary legal classification is Part 4 of Article 368, Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion is being decided.
Kryvonos also added that there is information that "members of this criminal group tried to influence the very important process of electing members of the HQCJ (High Qualification Commission of Judges - ed.)".
However, in this case, the main thing is that "there is a bribe, there is a motive, there is a recorded fact, there are specific people (suspects - ed.) and there are no other implications".
