REUTERS
The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has listed countries where individuals who have siphoned money from Ukraine are harboring their assets.
The NABU estimates that over UAH 2.27 billion (or US$85 million at the official forex rate as of April 24), $420 million, EUR 4.3 million and GBP 825,000 has been siphoned from Ukraine.
As the NABU said in its Ukrainian-language video posted on April 24, some $73.36 million and EUR 800,000 is now in Latvia, $208.133 million and GBP 825,000 is in the United Kingdom. Individuals suspected of siphoning funds from Ukraine also invested their assets in elite property in Germany and Spain. What is more, EUR 3.2 million was channeled into Switzerland, UAH 2 billion (or $75 million) and $10.8 million into Austria, while $19.693 million in stolen assets was hidden in the British Virgin Islands.
In total, NABU agents have revealed the Ukrainian corruption footprint in 41 countries.
As UNIAN reported earlier, NABU has been investigating 49 cases of corruption at state-owned enterprises.
"Out of over 300 cases investigated by NABU agents, 49 are investigations into corruption at state-owned companies. Probes are under way at 35 state enterprises, including 15 from the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry's top 100 state companies in terms of assets," NABU said.
Read alsoNABU chief: Meddling in property registers becomes popular crime in UkraineNABU is a Ukrainian law enforcement agency founded in October 2014. It investigates corruption in Ukraine and prepares cases for prosecution. NABU has investigatory powers although it cannot indict suspects directly and must pass any evidence of corruption over to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Read alsoNBU refutes allegations of involvement in money siphoning via Austrian banksNABU was created at the request of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission in return for the relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the European Union. NABU's funding by the Ukrainian Government is mandated under U.S. and European Union aid programs.
NABU recently received funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) as part of the Good Governance Fund for Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans.