Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau catches top deputy prosecutor for $ 40,000 bribery

A deputy regional prosecutor was caught accepting a $40,000 bribe in exchange for manipulating criminal proceedings and obstructing justice.

Sep 23, 2024 - 18:00

Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau catches top deputy prosecutor for $ 40,000 bribery

Natalia Maksymenko.

A high-ranking official in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor’s Office has been accused of soliciting a $40,000 bribe, according to reports from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP).

This is a part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to combat systemic corruption, particularly among high-ranking officials, as the country aims to join the European Union and support its economic and political stability.

The deputy prosecutor allegedly requested the sum in exchange for altering the jurisdiction of criminal proceedings, lifting a property seizure, and preventing criminal prosecution of an individual. According to NABU and SAP, the official was caught “red-handed” while receiving the full bribe amount.

While law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified the suspect, the Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor’s Office website indicates that the office head has only one female deputy, Natalia Maksymenko. A source from LIGA.net in the law enforcement sector has reportedly confirmed her involvement.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin emphasized the office’s commitment to combating corruption within the system.

“We are persistently implementing a course to cleanse the system of corruption and prevent such cases,” Kostin stated, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The Prosecutor General’s office is reportedly providing full cooperation to NABU and SAP in their investigation of corruption within the prosecutor’s office. Kostin added that anti-corruption efforts remain “a constant priority,” including reforms to internal processes and strengthened control measures.

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