Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted investigative actions on November 3 as part of a pre-trial investigation into possible illegal enrichment and possible declaration of unreliable data by Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan.

"On November 3, NABU detectives conducted investigative actions as part of the pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings registered in May 2017 regarding the possible illegal enrichment and possible declaration of unreliable data a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The investigation is underway," the NABU's press service reported, in response to media reports about searches of the home of the infrastructure minister.

As for reports about the alleged preparation of a notice of suspicion to First Deputy Justice Minister Natalia Sevostyanova, the NABU said that this information was untrue.

"Once again, we emphasize that the inclusion of information in the unified register of pre-trial investigations cannot serve as basis for accusations against a person in committing an offense. According to the current legislation of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until the conviction of the court against him enters into force," the NABU said.

As reported, the NABU conducts a pre-trial investigation into Omelyan's putting unreliable information in his income declaration and received the access to information about his phone talks over the period from December 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

According to a ruling by Solomyansky District Court of Kyiv put in the unified state register of judgments, NABU has been investigating criminal proceedings since May 26, 2017 into the declaration of unreliable information (Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and illegal enrichment (Part 3 of Art. 368-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) by Infrastructure Minister Omelyan.

During the pre-trial investigation, the NABU established that starting from December 10, 2016, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, his wife and son, lived in a house that since September 27, 2016, has belonged to his wife's first cousin once removed. Approximate value of the house is UAH 7 million.

NABU detectives pointed out that according to the information of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the wife's cousin once removed doesn't receive the income to afford buying such a house.

Also, during the period from March 23, 2009 to March 23, 2011, the mother of his wife's niece once removed issued an authorization to drive her Lexus RX 350 to Omelyan, "which indicates their confidential relationship."

The NABU petition also states that on March 29, 2017, the infrastructure minister filed an electronic declaration for 2016 stating that he actually lives in an apartment that belongs to his wife. At the same time, Omelyan did not indicate his right to use the real estate, namely, the home where he lives. NABU says that the information provided by Omelyan in the declaration for 2016 differs from the actual one by UAH 7 million, which is more than 250 subsistence minimums for able-bodied people.

Also, NABU detective noted that a pre-trial investigation established that Omelyan has been using the 2015 BMW X5 car which costs around UAH 1.59 million. The said vehicle belongs to the minister's brother. However, this car, which is used by the minister was not mentioned in his declaration for 2015 and 2016 contrary to Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Prevention of Corruption".

According to NABU, Omelyan put false information in his income declaration, so the latter's actions bear the signs of an offence under Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

NABU asked the court to provide temporary access to information from several mobile phone numbers in order to establish connections between these individuals, as well as find out the whereabouts of Omelyan during a certain period of time, "which will allow to compare where the latter lived and where he is currently living."

The Solomyansky District Court in Kyiv partially granted the request of NABU and provided the investigation with access to information about the mobile phone conversations of the infrastructure minister for the period from December 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

In his turn, Omelyan said that there was no false information in his declaration.