The High Anti-Corruption Court has released former MP Dmytro Kriuchkov, suspected of stealing UAH 1.5 billion, from arrest. The formal reason was an alleged error in the decision made by a HACC judge. This was reported by “Slovo ta Dilo”, UNN.
According to the publication, the HACC initially arrested Kryuchkov for 60 days. The suspect's lawyers filed an appeal against this decision. As a result, the HACC Appeals Chamber rejected the choice of a preventive measure in the form of detention.
The journalists note that the SAPO accuses former MP Dmytro Kriuchkov of misappropriating funds of a number of regional power companies in 2015-2016 under Article 191, part 5 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office), Article 209, part 3 (legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means). The total damages to the energy supply companies in the case amount to over UAH 1.5 billion. However, this did not prevent the HACC judges from releasing the fugitive from arrest.
This scandal was another in a series of accusations of abuse against the HACC.
Earlier, Ukrainian lawyers accused judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court of fulfilling the tasks of SAPO prosecutors and NABU detectives. “The HACC judges follow a post-totalitarian, post-Soviet approach when it comes to assisting the prosecution - SAPO and NABU - and fulfilling their task,” they said.
Prior to that, HACCJ judge Kateryna Sikora refused to take the former acting CEO of Kharkivoblenergo, Kostyantyn Logvynenko, into custody and released him on UAH 3.5 million bail. The NABU and the SAPO suspect him of co-organizing the embezzlement of UAH 12.5 million of the company and attempted embezzlement of another UAH 120 million. As for Judge Sikora herself, the NACP found signs of illicit enrichment. Sikora was caught entering false information about a number of cars, apartments, and parking spaces that she had acquired while administering justice.
In addition to Sikora, another judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court, Valeria Chorna, was also caught up in the scandal. In the midst of the war , she became the owner of a luxury car. In September 2022, she bought a BMW X6 from a dealership. “There must be some kind of personal satisfaction, I think I deserve it and have the right to this car,” the HACC judge told Slidstvo.info.
According to a sociological survey conducted by the Rating Group, 72% of Ukrainians do not trust the judiciary, which includes the HACC.