Oleksandr Onyshchenko / Photo from UNIAN
The anti-corruption watchdog says suspects face seven to 12 years in prison if found guilty.
This week, the indictment filed against Member of Parliament Oleksandr Onyshchenko, accused of organizing public funds embezzlement scheme while producing and selling gas under joint operation agreements with the Public Joint-Stock Company (PJSC) Ukrgasvydobuvannya (the so-called "gas case"), was forwarded to the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv.
The investigation into possible wrongdoings of another participant in the scheme, the financial director of the companies controlled by the MP, has also been completed, according to the NABU press service.
If found guilty, the suspects face seven to 12 years' imprisonment with forfeiture of property.
Within the investigation, according to NABU's claims, 1 million cubic meters of gas, EUR 6 million, an office, an aircraft and other property, were seized. These assets may be recovered as compensation for losses inflicted to the interests of the state.
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The investigation revealed that MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko has set up and led a criminal organization, whose members in the period from January 2013 until June 2016 embezzled more than UAH 1.6 billion while producing and selling natural gas. As a result, more than UAH 740 million in losses was caused to the PJSC Ukrgasvydobuvannya (100% shares belong to the NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine").
The investigation revealed that 29 persons were involved in the scheme. Among them, there are two persons from the MP's close entourage who acted as co-organizers, while others are employees of the PJSC Ukrgasvydobuvannya, lawyers, financiers, company executives, etc.
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Within the investigation, eight persons have signed plea bargain agreements. The indictments against 15 suspects (including the MP and the financial director) were forwarded to court.
Six persons (including the MP) were placed on international wanted list.
The so-called "gas case" is one of the first criminal proceedings registered by the Detectives of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine. The case is one of the most high-profile disclosures of corruption in the history of independent Ukraine, taking into account the status of the organizers and participants in the scheme, the number of people involved, and the damage caused to the State.