HACC obliges NBU to deal with banks' refusals to accept bail for Mudra
The High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered the National Bank of Ukraine to investigate why banks are refusing to process payments for the bail of former Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, according to lawyers from the Miller law firm representing her interests.
According to the defense, the investigating judge of the HACC upheld their complaint on September 24. The lawyers claim that attempts to transfer money to the court's official account have been blocked by as many as 15 banks, leaving Mudra in custody despite the court's ruling allowing her release on bail.
Within 24 hours, the NBU must verify the information about the blocking of such payments. If the refusals are found to be unjustified, the regulator must take measures to enable the payment of bail.
Additionally, the court ordered the National Bank to provide the HACC and the defense with its letters and recommendations to banks regarding payments designated as "bail," as well as information about received reports of mass refusals. Following the review, the NBU must report on its results.
Lawyer Masi Nayem stated that the defense initially attributed the delays to financial monitoring procedures but later decided to appeal to the court. According to the lawyers, potential bail providers are ready to transfer the funds, but banks and payment services are not processing transactions to the HACC account.
Previously, the defense reported that of the UAH 20 million set by the court, only UAH 5 million of Mudra's own funds managed to be deposited. The remaining amount was attempted by other individuals, but the payments did not go through.
The NBU previously denied any "manual" interference in the banks' operations. In a comment to the media, the regulator called the assumption of a centralized instruction to block such payments unfounded and noted that financial institutions make decisions independently within the framework of financial monitoring and risk assessment.
On August 25, the HACC imposed on Mudra a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with an alternative of bail in the amount of UAH 20 million. On September 2, the HACC Appeals Chamber upheld this decision. The full bail amount has not yet been deposited.
Mudra is a suspect in criminal proceedings related to the operation by NABU and SAP called "Forrest Gump." According to the investigation, members of the alleged criminal organization gained control over the state-owned Sense Bank to use the financial institution in private interests and laundered about UAH 150 million in cash of criminal origin. The guilt of the suspects has not been established by the court.
