The Verkhovna Rada has supported in the first reading a bill that would allow corrupt officials to "pay off" corruption punishment by paying a fine, UNN reports, citing MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak and the bill card No. 11340.
Details
"Draft law No. 11340 on plea bargaining in corruption proceedings. It was voted for in 231 votes. Despite the risks pointed out by the NABU, the SAPO, and the Anti-Corruption Committee.... the coalition passed the first reading in the parliament," Zheleznyak said on Telegram.
According to the draft law, corrupt officials for particularly serious crimes within the NABU's jurisdiction will be released from punishment provided that the suspect or accused fully or partially (taking into account the nature and degree of participation in the crime) compensates the damage or harm caused.
It is noted that the amount of compensation will be set at the same level:
- from UAH 204 thousand to UAH 2.04 million - in case of a criminal offense;
- from UAH 2.057 million to UAH 20.4 million - in case of a minor crime;
- from UAH 20.417 million to UAH 102 million - in case of a serious crime;
- from UAH 102 million to UAH 204 million - in case of a particularly serious crime.
Recall
People's Deputy Mykola Zadorozhnyi was served with a notice of suspicion for demanding a bribe of UAH 3.4 million for not interfering with the repair of infrastructure in Sumy region. Zadorozhnyi himself stated that he neither demanded nor received the money.
The court imposed bail of UAH 3.028 million and other restrictions on MP Mykola Zadorozhnyi.