The court arrested the current MP. He is accused of fraud in procurement for Ukrzaliznytsia
14 February 16:14
Today, the High Anti-Corruption Court granted the motion of NABU detectives, approved by the acting Prosecutor General, to change the preventive measure for the current MP, one of the organizers of the embezzlement of more than UAH 140 million in the purchase of cables from Ukrzaliznytsia JSC. This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
The prosecution filed a motion with the court to change the measure of restraint from bail to detention with an alternative to bail, given that the suspect did not post UAH 100 million bail, which was previously set by the court. Having heard the arguments of the parties, the court partially granted the motion and imposed on the suspect a 60-day detention with an alternative of UAH 100 million bail.
Pursuant to the court decision, the suspect was taken into custody in the courtroom.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office did not name the arrested MP. But earlier, the Anti-Corruption Action Center reported that anti-corruption authorities had served MP Viktor Bondar with a suspicion notice in the case of misappropriation of UAH 140 million for the purchase of cables for Ukrzaliznytsia.
In late January, the investigating judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court did not take the MP into custody, but set him bail at UAH 100 million and ordered him to appear when called by a detective, prosecutor or court, refrain from communicating with witnesses and visiting Ukrzaliznytsia, surrender his passports, and not travel outside Kyiv region without permission. The MP was not obliged to wear an electronic bracelet.
What is the MP accused of?
The investigation considers him to be one of the organizers of the misappropriation of Ukrzaliznytsia’s funds for the purchase of cable and wire products. The MP’s actions are qualified under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
As the prosecutor’s office noted at the time, the pre-trial investigation established that the MP, using his influence, created obstacles in the activities of the entrepreneur to involve him in the implementation of the illegal scheme.
Subsequently, having enlisted the “support” of the MP, the entrepreneur and the MP developed a criminal scheme to misappropriate funds of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC by supplying products at inflated prices.
To commit the crime, the individuals conspired with members of another organized group, which included an official of Ukrzaliznytsia and other individuals who exercised informal control over the Company’s activities. A kind of back office organized by members of another organized group allowed for informal control over the company’s activities, and, subject to payment of part of the money to the group members, helped to remove obstacles and ensure decision-making, in particular, regarding the victory of companies controlled by the entrepreneur in Ukrzaliznytsia’s procurement.
The implementation of the criminal intentions led to the fact that in 2021-2022, two companies controlled by the MP and the entrepreneur won in Ukrzaliznytsia’s procurement of cable and wire products.
Using various schemes to increase the cost of products, the offenders sold them to Ukrzaliznytsia at prices significantly higher than market prices, which caused Ukrzaliznytsia losses of more than UAH 140 million.
It is emphasized that during the operation of the scheme, the suspected MP used his status and connections to resolve issues, as well as received shadow “dividends” from the implementation of the criminal scheme.
Currently, 8 people have been served notices of suspicion over the above facts.
What is known about Viktor Bondar
In 2005-2006, he headed the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine. From September 2006 to September 2007, he worked as Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine. From September 2007 to February 2010, he headed the Dnipropetrovs’k Regional State Administration. From 2010 to 2012, he worked as Deputy Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine. In 2012, he was elected as a Member of Parliament of Ukraine. In 2012, he joined the Party of Regions faction. In 2019, he was elected for the third time as a Member of Parliament of Ukraine. He was elected to the parliament in the 191st constituency of Khmelnytskyi region. He headed the parliamentary group “For the Future” in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Currently, he is not a member of any faction.
