The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) insists on transferring UAH 150 million, posted as bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, to the management of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). The funds have already been seized, and their origin has become the subject of a separate NABU investigation into possible laundering of criminal proceeds.

Hromadske reported this on October 26, with its correspondent attending the hearing of the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).

As explained by SAPO prosecutor Vitalii Rybalkin, all UAH 150 million are currently under arrest on the HACC treasury account. The funds have been recognized as material evidence in the criminal proceedings investigated by NABU and SAPO within the "Forest Gump" operation.

Prosecutor's office proposes to invest bail in bonds

According to the prosecutor, transferring the funds to ARMA management will preserve their value during the lengthy investigation and trial.

In particular, the agency will be able to invest the seized money in bonds. Rybalkin cited securities with a yield of about 17% per annum as an example.

Such a mechanism, according to the prosecution, will reduce losses from inflation and generate income from temporary management of a significant amount of funds.

At the same time, transferring the money to ARMA will not mean its automatic confiscation. It concerns the management of the seized asset, whose legal status will ultimately be determined within the judicial proceedings.

Halushchenko's lawyers criticized the prosecutor's approach to using bail as an investment asset.

Only a representative of one of the four companies that posted the funds appeared at the HACC Appeals Chamber hearing. Halushchenko himself did not appear.

At the request of the defense, which said it needed additional time to prepare, the court adjourned the hearing to November. Thus, the decision on transferring UAH 150 million to ARMA management has not yet been made.

NABU investigates origin of funds raised for Halushchenko's bail

The history of the former minister's bail became the subject of separate criminal proceedings as early as summer 2026.

First, on February 17, the HACC imposed a measure of restraint on Halushchenko in the form of detention with an alternative of UAH 200 million bail. In June, the court reduced the amount to UAH 150 million.

On June 29, the necessary funds were deposited by four private companies, after which the ex-minister was released from the pre-trial detention center.

However, already on August 19, NABU and SAPO announced the results of operations "Forest Gump" and "Themis", within which, in particular, the origin of the money used for the bail of one of the defendants in the "Midas" case is being investigated.

According to investigators, members of an organized group collected UAH 150 million in cash, which may have criminal origins. Subsequently, these funds were converted into non-cash form through accounts of controlled companies and used to pay bail.

Detectives believe that participants of the scheme engaged representatives of the state-owned Sense Bank to carry out the financial transactions. According to investigation materials, the money passed through company accounts and was then transferred to the court's account.

Thus, NABU is checking not only the formal bail payers, but also the sources of the funds, the mechanism of their collection, and the possible involvement of officials in conducting the relevant banking operations.

Within the "Forest Gump" and "Themis" operations, law enforcement notified 12 persons of suspicion. Among the defendants, according to NABU, are current and former people's deputies, officials of the President's Office, managers and representatives of Sense Bank, as well as other persons.

The investigation also covers other episodes of likely criminal organization activity, in particular illegal acquisition of corporate assets and real estate.

The investigation suggests that part of the funds obtained as a result of unlawful operations may have been used to form Halushchenko's bail. Their origin and the involvement of specific persons must be finally established by the court.

Halushchenko may be taken into custody again

Back in early September, SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko said that the prosecutor's office is seeking seizure of UAH 150 million and their transfer to ARMA management.

He explained that if the court grants the relevant requests, the question may arise about the validity of the posted bail and the need to take Halushchenko into custody again.

At the same time, this is not an automatic consequence of the transfer of funds to ARMA: the measure of restraint issue will require a separate procedural decision.

Recall that Halushchenko is a suspect in the "Midas" case on probable corruption in the energy sector and laundering of illegal income.

On October 22, the HACC extended a number of procedural duties of the ex-minister for two months, but did not extend the requirement to wear an electronic bracelet.

The investigation is ongoing. According to the presumption of innocence, all suspects are considered innocent until their guilt is established by a court.

Sources: hromadske, 26.10.2026, NABU - operations "Forest Gump" and "Themis", Radio Svoboda