The High Anti-Corruption Court reduced the bail amounts for three suspects in the 'Carthage' case concerning a suspected corruption scheme in the Prosecutor General's Office. Among them is former deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation of the PGO Serhiy Kropyva, who is believed by the investigation to be the organizer of the criminal group.
The court issued these decisions on October 29, and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office additionally announced them on October 30.
Despite the reduction in bail, all three defendants had their detention extended for another 60 days. Thus, the court kept the strictest preventive measure in effect, but reviewed the financial conditions for possible release from the detention center.
According to an official statement by the HACC, Serhiy Kropyva's bail was reduced from UAH 120 million to UAH 93.184 million.
Another suspect, Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko, who appears in the investigation materials under the pseudonym 'Muza,' had her bail amount reduced from UAH 20 million to UAH 15 million.
For lawyer Oleksandr Dydych, whom the investigation considers a trusted person of Kropyva, the bail was reduced from UAH 15 million to about UAH 11.7 million.
According to the SAPO, the decision to review the amounts was made after partial satisfaction of defense motions. At the same time, the court agreed to extend the detention of the suspects following motions by NABU detectives, agreed upon by SAPO prosecutors.
If bail is posted for the suspects, they will be able to leave the detention center, but will be required to comply with a number of restrictions. In particular, they must appear upon summons by investigators and the court, notify of changes in residence or employment, not communicate with certain individuals regarding the circumstances of the case, surrender travel documents for going abroad, and wear electronic bracelets.
Recall that in September, NABU and SAPO announced a large-scale anti-corruption operation 'Carthage.' According to the investigation, an official of the Prosecutor General's Office created an organization whose members systematically received unlawful benefits for non-interference in the activities of fraudulent call centers.
Law enforcement officers also suspect the scheme's participants of laundering illegally obtained funds through the purchase of real estate, jewelry, and registration of assets in third parties' names.
Earlier, 'Kurs Ukrainy' reported that the Appeals Chamber of the HACC left Kropyva in custody with a bail of UAH 120 million. At that time, the suspect denied involvement in receiving unlawful benefits and covering for fraudulent call centers.
The investigation of the 'Carthage' case is ongoing. The guilt of the suspects must be established by a court conviction.
Sources: Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, High Anti-Corruption Court, NABU
