The Security Service of Ukraine, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Prosecutor General, has detained a lawyer in Kyiv who is suspected of demanding $5 million to allegedly «resolve the matter» with law enforcement agencies and have the criminal proceedings closed. According to the investigation, he was detained at a bank in the Pechersk district whilst receiving an advance payment of $3.8 million.
- The lawyer allegedly demanded $5 million to «close» the criminal case.
- He was arrested whilst receiving an advance payment of $3.8 million.
- The arrest took place at a bank in the Pechersk district of Kyiv.
- He faces up to 8 years’ imprisonment and the confiscation of his property.
He promised to «sort things out» with the police in return for $5 million
According to the investigation’s findings, the lawyer offered the person involved in the criminal proceedings 5 million USD to secure its closure.
He allegedly tried to convince the client that he was able to influence the law enforcement agencies and ensure the desired outcome.
Among the promises made by the lawyer, law enforcement officers cite preventing the person concerned from being placed on an international wanted list and the forwarding of information to Interpol, as well as preventing the freezing of bank accounts and assets.
The investigation is determining whether the suspect did indeed have the relevant connections and who else may have been involved in the scheme.
Arrested with $3.8 million in the bank
The operation was carried out by SBU officers in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigations and the Office of the Prosecutor General.
The lawyer was detained at a bank in the Pechersk district of Kyiv whilst receiving $3.8 million, which were to constitute an advance payment on the total amount.
The photographs released by the SBU show several large bags and rucksacks filled with bundles of dollars.
According to the police, after receiving the money, the lawyer planned to to exchange the banknotes handed over for others, in order to make it more difficult to trace the origin of the funds and to cover up the transaction.
The lawyer was notified that he was under suspicion
Following his arrest, the man was informed that he was under suspicion. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement officers establishing all the circumstances and identifying any other possible participants in the scheme.
If a solicitor is found guilty in court is punishable by up to eight years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
A person is presumed innocent until a court’s conviction becomes final.
Law enforcement officers are investigating possible links
A separate line of inquiry should be devoted to verifying the lawyer’s claims regarding the possibility of influencing the course of the criminal proceedings.
Law enforcement agencies need to establish whether this was merely a case of the suspect being deceived, or whether other individuals may have been involved in a possible scheme.
The amount in $5 million This makes the case one of the largest in terms of the sums involved amongst recent revelations relating to the alleged «settlement of matters» in criminal proceedings.
