The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is attempting to locate the whereabouts of about $156 million and UAH 218,100, assets belonging to Quickpace Limited, the company associated with Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Oleksandr Onyshchenko. The funds were arrested on Oschadbank accounts in the so-called 'gas case.'

NABU's press service says its detectives are investigating Oschadbank employees.

"NABU detectives established that as of October 17, 2017, despite delays, these funds disappeared fro the accounts of the public joint-stock State Savings Bank of Ukraine (Oschadbank). The explanation is that they were supposedly transferred to Ukraine's budget on the basis of the Kramatorsk court (Donetsk region) ruling, which affirmed the plea agreement with citizen Arkadiy K.," NABU said.

In order to clarify the situation regarding the withdrawal of the funds belonging to Quickpace Limited from Oschadbank, NABU detectives questions employees of the bank.

"Bank officials did not provide any evidence backing up the claim that the funds were transferred to the state budget, saying they were not authorized to divulge the information. So it remains unclear where the funds were transferred to," NABU says.

NABU has registered a criminal case based on the fact that funds were transferred by Oschadbank officials and arrested assets were handled illegally.

NABU has refuted claims by Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Tetiana Chornovil about intentions of the bureau to return some of the funds to Onyshchenko, who is a suspect in the 'gas case,' which incurred about UAH 3 billion in government losses.

"As regards statements about NABU reaching an arrangement with Onyshchenko, issues involving deals with suspects is the prerogative of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office," NABU said.