Ukrainian former MP Mykola Martynenko has been served with a notice to appear for questioning at the request of Czech law-enforcement officials as a witness in an international case, the press service of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has said.
According to the statement, Martynenko was served with the notice on November 5, 2018.
“The information on the investigation by the Czech authorities of the criminal proceedings is confidential and is not subject to disclosure,” NABU said.
“We emphasize that NABU detectives served the notice in accordance with provisions of Ukraine’s Criminal Procedure Code,” the agency said.
As earlier reported, Martynenko is suspected of organising the large-scale embezzlement of property through abuse of office; creating a criminal organisation for the purpose of committing serious crimes, managing such an organisation, participating in it and in crimes committed by such an organisation; as well as organising the large-scale money laundering of the proceeds of crime.
Other suspects in the case include the current leaders of VostGOK, the Nuclear Fuel State Concern, NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, PJSC United Mining-Chemical Company and a structural subdivision of the Energoatom nuclear energy generating company.
NABU detectives started the investigation into the embezzlement of Energoatom’s funds worth 6.4 million euros in December 2015. On October 25, 2017, the former MP was notified about the allegation as part of this proceeding under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or possession of property through abuse of office).
The investigation into the embezzlement of VostGOK’s funds worth $17.28 million was also launched in December 2015.
In November 2017, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) decided to merge the two criminal proceedings into one. Eleven individuals have currently been declared suspects in this joint criminal proceeding, and five of them were placed on the wanted list.
On November 30, 2015, Martynenko reported the abdication of his deputy powers due to the corruption scandal around him and, according to him, an “information campaign” against him. On December 22, 2015, the parliament adopted a draft resolution on the abdication of his deputy powers.
On April 20, 2017, NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors detained Martynenko and First Deputy CEO of Naftogaz Ukrainy Serhiy Pereloma on suspicion of misappropriation, embezzlement and other charges.
On April 24, 2017, Judge Oleksandr Bobrovnyk of the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv refused to arrest Martynenko with the alternative to post Hr 300 million and released him under the personal recognizance of a number of deputies.
