By KYIV. Nov 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) reported suspicion to a current MP who tried to bribe top officials in the field of reconstruction, SAPO said in the Telegram channel on Tuesday.
“On the instructions of the head of the SAPO, the prosecutor reported suspicion to the current MP, who was exposed for providing undue benefits to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine and the head of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine,” SAPO said in the statement.
The prosecutor’s report does not indicate the name of the person involved. As Interfax-Ukraine learned, this is about MP of For the Future group Serhiy Labaziuk, who is a member of the parliamentary committee on issues of agrarian and land policy.
According to SAPO information, also under the procedural guidance of SAPO prosecutors, NABU detectives reported suspicion to the MP’s accomplice, the head of the enterprise. The actions of persons are qualified according to the elements of a crime provided for in Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (promising or providing an unlawful benefit to an official).
“The investigation of this criminal offense was made possible thanks to the personal assistance of the Prosecutor General,” SAPO said.
It was established that the MP of Ukraine, acting in a preliminary conspiracy with the director of the joint-stock company, offered top officials an unlawful benefit for allocating UAH 1 billion of additional funding for the work that was carried out by the specified company under their control. “The proposed amount of improper benefit should be from 3% to 5% of the funding,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Subsequently, the suspects provided persons occupying a particularly responsible position with a portion of this unlawful benefit in the amount of $150,000.
The pretrial investigation continues. Other persons who may be involved in the commission of this crime are being identified.
“We note that the Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine and the head of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, collaborated with NABU and SAPO and contributed to the investigation of illegal actions,” SAPO said.
