Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) during a search of a bank safe deposit box belonging to an associate of MP Oleksandr Onyschenko found and seized $600,000. The decision is to be made to put the funds under arrest.

The press service of NABU said on Thursday Onyschenko's associate is nominal owner of a nonresident company actually belonging to Onyschenko. The company holds shares in the charter capital of Karpatnadrainvest LLC and Nadra Geocenter LLC, operators under joint operation agreements with public joint-stock company Ukrgazvydobuvannia.

The search was conducted on October 19 as part of an investigation into the criminal case over abuse of office when selling natural gas produced under joint production agreements with Ukrgazvydobuvannia (the so-called "Onyschenko case."), the press service of NABU said.

Onyschenko is suspected of organizing a scheme to steal money from the natural gas production and sale projects with Ukrgazvydobuvannia, resulting in around UAH 3 billion in losses to the state.

The Ukrainian parliament has authorized his arrest and prosecution. However, Onyschenko, using his parliamentary status, fled Ukraine.

On August 8, he was placed on the national wanted list.

On October 19 NABU said that Interpol within 30 days would decide whether or not to declare Onyschenko international fugitive from justice.