Custody status to be chosen for 5 Ukrainian MPs suspected of organizing criminal group for illegal gains – NABU
Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have served notices of suspicion to members of an organized criminal group that operated within the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and facilitated the receipt of illicit benefits by members of parliament in exchange for "desired" voting outcomes.
"According to the investigation, the group had a hierarchical structure and a clear division of roles. It included sitting members of parliament and officials of the Verkhovna Rada Secretariat. The group’s activities were coordinated by one of the MPs," NABU said in a statement.
According to law enforcement, to organize voting, members of the group sent instructions containing bill numbers via a specially created WhatsApp messenger group. After the votes, certain MPs were systematically paid cash.
Five members of parliament are suspected of creating the organized criminal group, and motions have been filed for the court to select preventive measures for all of them.
The legal qualification is Part 3 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: acceptance of unlawful benefit (Article 368), committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy (Part 3 of Article 28), or with other qualifying features related to holding a particularly responsible position or receiving an especially large unlawful benefit.