The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine (SAPO) has requested the court to choose a measure of restraint to an alleged accomplice in a scheme on embezzlement of funds through the extraction and sale of natural gas produced under the agreements on joint activities with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia.
“On July 25, 2019, [police] detained alleged female accomplice in the criminal scheme on embezzlement of natural gas extracted under the agreements on joint activities with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, who was on the run and put on wanted list since August 2016, at Boryspil airport,” SAPO press service wrote on Facebook.
The aforementioned person is suspected of committing crimes under Part 1 of Article 255, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 5 of Article 191, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 205, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
In December 2015, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launched a pre-trial investigation into the case of embezzlement involving the extraction and sale of natural gas that caused UAH 3 billion of losses to the state. In general, 29 persons are alleged partners in gas scheme, including employees of Ukrgazvydobuvannia, lawyer, financial experts, company heads and others.
Eight suspects admitted their guilt. Investigation into 12 persons has already been finished with charging documents been already handled to the court. Seven suspects, including MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, were put on wanted list.
As reported, on February 8, 2019, NABU Director Artem Sytnyk said the bureau had completed its investigation of Onyshchenko in the case of embezzlement involving the extraction and sale of natural gas. He said then the indictment would be sent to court within days.
Onyshchenko is suspected by Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies of organizing a scheme to embezzle funds through the extraction and sale of natural gas produced under the agreements on joint activities with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia. Ukraine’s parliament on July 5, 2016, granted permission to arrest and hold Onyshchenko criminally liable. However, prior to the vote, Onyshchenko fled Ukraine using his status as a MP. He was put on Ukraine’s wanted list on August 8, 2016.
