Ukrainian lawmaker charged in $250,000 NSDC sanctions scheme (VIDEO)
Law enforcers have charged a sitting Ukrainian lawmaker, according to The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). It appears to be Anna Skorokhod from the For Future party.
Early on Friday, NABU announced it had exposed a criminal group led by a Ukrainian lawmaker, without providing further details. Ukrainska Pravda reported it involved Skorokhod.
The lawmaker later confirmed that searches had been conducted at her residence. She said she sees this as "direct pressure on the opposition and an attempt to block political activity due to a principled stance."
According to investigators, members of the group offered a business representative $250,000 to arrange National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) sanctions against a competitor company. The suspects claimed they could pass a bribe to officials, including NSDC members, to secure the sanctions decision.
According to investigators, to cover their bases and ensure they pocketed the full amount, the company rep was told to write a receipt claiming it was a loan.
After receiving $125,000, they told the "client" this portion would go to NSDC officials. However, no money reached NSDC members or other officials because the suspects were unable to find a willing participant for the illegal act, NABU wrote.
The investigators say the lawmaker organized the group's activities and served as the deal's "guarantor."
Charges have now been pressed against the lawmaker, her aide, and an accomplice. The case is qualified under Part 4 of Article 27 and Part 4 of Article 369 of Ukraine's Criminal Code — offering, promising or providing undue benefit to an official. The offense carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, with or without confiscation of property.
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