MP Gunko sentenced to 7 years in prison for bribery
25 March 21:42
On March 25, the High Anti-Corruption Court found MP Anatoliy Hunko guilty in the case of illegal receipt of $85,000.
This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
The deputy was sentenced to 7 years in prison with confiscation of all property and deprivation of the right to be elected to state and local government bodies and appointed to civil service positions for a period of 3 years.
According to the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the case has been in court since February 2024. During this time, more than 30 court hearings were scheduled, during which evidence was examined, witnesses and the accused were questioned, and the parties made their speeches in the debate and Gunko’s last word.
During the interrogation, the MP admitted to taking a bribe. However, the defense insisted on a provocation, which allegedly led to the defendant’s illegal actions.
The prosecutor asked for 8 years in prison with confiscation of property. In his last speech, the MP himself asked to be acquitted.
The verdict will come into force in 30 days, and until then, Gunko is obliged to wear an electronic bracelet. In addition, the decision can be appealed to the HACC Appeals Chamber.
What’s the case?
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced a suspicion to MP from the Servant of the People faction Anatoliy Gunko back in August 2023. Earlier, he was caught taking a bribe.
According to the SBU, the MP promised a businessman to provide state-owned land plots of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine for cultivation in exchange for money. Law enforcers caught Gunko red-handed while he was receiving the first part of the $85,000 bribe.
In total, Gunko asked for $221,000 for his “services,” the prosecutor’s office said.
What is known about Anatoliy Gunko?
According to the Chesno movement, in 2015 he ran for the Kyiv Regional Council from the Nash Krai party but did not win. In 2016, he was named as a person involved in one of the land scams in Brovary.
In 2019, Gunko ran for the 209th district from Batkivshchyna. He came in third with 25% of the vote.
According to Suspilne, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv found Gunko guilty of violating the law by writing a deputy appeal in his own interests.
