SAP and NABU completed the investigation into the scheme of legalization of 21 million euros in the case of a record bribe to the head of the Federal Tax Service
On September 10, 2024, the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) announced the completion of the pre-trial investigation in the case concerning a person close to the former head of the State Fiscal Service (SFS) and his advisor. They are accused of being involved in a scheme to legalize part of the illegal profit received by the head of the SFS during the performance of his duties in 2015-2016. We are talking about a record bribe of more than 722 million UAH, which was given for assistance in the reimbursement of VAT to companies controlled by the agricultural holding in the amount of more than 3.2 billion UAH.
According to investigation materials, between December 2015 and March 2016, a person with ties to the former head of the Federal Tax Service helped him receive part of the bribe. She, as the owner of a group of construction companies, facilitated the transfer of more than 13 million euros to the accounts of a non-resident company (registered in the British Virgin Islands). Subsequently, these funds were legalized through the purchase of elite real estate in the center of Kyiv, in particular residential and office complexes with parking, in the period from May 2017 to April 2018.
The investigation established that the acquisition of real estate took place through financial transactions between non-resident companies through Swiss banking institutions, which tried to hide these transactions under the guise of paying for shares of another company.
The advisor of the ex-head of the Federal Tax Service legalized another part of the illegal profit in the amount of 7.9 million euros through his own non-resident company. Part of the funds in the amount of USD 5.5 million was used to conclude an agency agreement in January 2017, and another EUR 2.8 million was used for the purchase and sale of assets in April-August 2018.
As part of the investigation, NABU and SAP managed to seize 81 real estate objects in Kyiv and more than UAH 30 million in cash belonging to the owner of the construction company.
The actions of a person close to the former head of the Federal Tax Service are qualified under the articles of aiding in the commission of a crime, receiving a bribe, and legalizing the proceeds of crime. The adviser of the ex-chairman is accused of legalizing illegal profits.
It will be recalled that the former head of the Federal Tax Service was exposed in October 2022 for receiving a record bribe from the owner of an agricultural holding. The investigation against him and his adviser was completed in February 2023, and the indictment was handed over to the court in May. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court.
