In Kyiv, SBI agents, in cooperation with the SBU, detained a lawyer who had promised, for $5 million, to influence law enforcement officials to close a criminal case. According to the investigation, he demanded money in exchange for using his influence.
The lawyer was familiar with the details of one of the criminal cases, which law enforcement agencies had been investigating since 2014 and which concerned the possible unlawful acquisition of corporate rights in two companies.
He spread information about the possibility of bringing criminal charges against a former co-owner of the companies, and during a meeting with the co-owner’s representative, he began demanding $5 million, promising to influence law enforcement officials and close the criminal case.
After receiving a portion of the funds, totaling 3.8 million U.S. dollars, the attorney was detained.
The preliminary classification of the offense is obtaining an unlawful benefit for oneself by influencing the decision-making of a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with the extortion of such a benefit (Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The penalty under this article provides for imprisonment for up to 8 years with confiscation of property.
The Office of the Prosecutor General is overseeing the proceedings.
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
