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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The NBU has opened a new case against Nasirov for a bribe and is checking an account in Latvia.
The Solomianskyi Court, at the request of an NABU detective, granted permission for competent Latvian authorities to obtain information and documents from a Latvian bank regarding UAI-Trade SA, according to a decision of the Solomianskyi Court from 13 February.
The NABU detective reported that criminal proceeding No.52017000000000717 of 25.10.2017 under part 4 of article 368 of the Criminal Code concerns receiving a bribe.
During the investigation it was established that the former head of the State Fiscal Service, Roman Nasirov, effectively controls RN Group Limited, registered on the British Virgin Islands.
In particular, 05.06.2012 Nasirov as director of RN Group Limited (Buyer) signed a contract with the Ukrainian company LLC "Ukrzernoprom Agro" (Seller) for the purchase and sale of a stake in the authorized capital of LLC "Ukrzernoprom-Ivanivka" in the amount of 99%.
Additionally, as of 02.10.2017, the ultimate beneficial owner of RN Group Limited is Nasirov’s biological brother — Evgen.
Detectives have information that former head of the FSS Nasirov could be receiving money into the RN Group Limited (BVI) account via UAI-Trade SA (Switzerland), with assistance in obtaining VAT refunds for LLC "Ukrainian Agricultural Investments" whose beneficiary is former MP from the Party of Regions Andriy Verevskiy. According to ASMO "Inspector," LLC "Ukrainian Agricultural Investments" allegedly exported grain to the related company UAI-Trade SA in 2015 year.
UAI-Trade SA has a bank account with the Latvian bank Rietumu Banka. NABU detectives want to obtain information from the Latvian bank about sources of funds and subsequent movements of funds received by UAI-Trade SA, about persons authorized to manage funds on the UAI-Trade SA account, about the beneficial owners of UAI-Trade SA, and the true recipients of the company’s income.
Recall that 27 November 2017, the Shevchenkivskyi Court of Kyiv began examining the case on the merits against former head of the FSS Nasirov and the director of the Debt Recovery Department of the FSS Volodymyr Novikov. They are charged with abuse of power and official forgery during providing tax deferrals to gas companies linked to MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, amounting to 2 billion UAH.
Recall that NABU and SAP employees have served Nasirov with suspicion of committing a criminal offense. Nasirov’s arrest occurred at the Feofania Hospital. Feofania doctors initially did not allow law enforcement to hand Nasirov the suspicion notice. The head of the FSS allegedly was diagnosed with a heart attack. As a result, SAP prosecutors were not allowed into the hospital ward to Nasirov. According to Kholodnycky, a decision to conduct several urgent procedural actions in this case was made because law enforcement learned of Nasirov’s possible travel abroad and due to the risk of evidence destruction. Also, a video of the suspicion notice to Nasirov at Feofania Hospital was circulated online with the caption: “Dude is unconscious, and you read to him.”
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office suspects Nasirov of causing the state 2 billion hryvnias in losses: he issued decisions that helped Onyshchenko implement corrupt schemes. In turn, Onyshchenko stated: “The investigation will prove nothing: there was no money in my relations with Nasirov.”
Later it became known that NABU was preparing a motion to choose a preventive measure for Nasirov. The defense of the head of the FSS claimed his condition worsened and that he would undergo an operation. At the same time, KholoDytsky has doubts about Nasirov’s diagnosis.
3 March, the Cabinet of Ministers removed Nasirov from the post of head of the FSS for the duration of the investigation. Acting head of the FSS is Myroslav Produn.
In an interview, Nasirov stated: “I cooperated with the investigation since the middle of last year, starting from the first interrogation.”
4–5 March, the court could not choose a preventive measure for Nasirov and postponed the hearing until 6 March. Fearing Nasirov could be released, “Automaidan” blocked the courthouse building where Nasirov is. In addition, activists remained under the courthouse overnight: “We stay under the court to wait for the hearing.” Nasirov himself also spent the night in the Solomianskyi District Court building.
During the trial Nasirov’s defense asked for a court-ordered medical examination of the suspect’s health. The prosecutors replied that Nasirov’s defense is using the right to medical aid to delay the case. Ultimately, the Solomianskyi District Court denied the medical examination, and a representative from the Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology, summoned to the court, stated: “Nasirov’s condition allows him to participate in the trial.” It also became known during the hearing that Nasirov holds British and Hungarian citizenship. Censor.NET published a detailed report from the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv, where the preventive measure was considered for three days.
As a result, the judge of the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv, Oleksandr Bobrovnyk, on the night of 7 March partially satisfied the investigators’ petition, selecting a pretrial restraint in the form of detention for Nasirov for 60 days, until 30 April 2017 of the year, with the possibility of posting a bail of 100 million hryvnias. Recall that the prosecution requested bail of 2 billion hryvnias. Meanwhile, former deputy general prosecutor Davit Sakvarelidze said at a rally under the courthouse: “The presidential administration demands that the court reduce Nasirov’s bail to 10 million hryvnias.” Porošenko, in turn, stated: “The announcement of Nasirov’s suspicion is taking place without informing the President.” Nasirov’s defense, meanwhile, is trying to move the suspect to the Feofania clinic: “He is still hospitalized.”
Additionally, the Anti-Corruption Bureau opened a criminal case for opposing NABU in the “Nasirov case” against deputies Antonishchak and Davidenko. MP Leshchenko stated: “The head of the Solomianskyi District Court who did not ensure his work for Nasirov’s preventive measure will be reported to NABU.”
According to the Ministry of Justice, Nasirov was delivered to Lukyanivskyi Investigation Isolation jail on Tuesday around 4:00. He was immediately examined by a nurse of the correctional facility medical unit. The doctor found Nasirov’s condition satisfactory. The Ministry also said Nasirov is in a four-person general cell: “He has one neighbor. It is not the same cell where Lutsenko was.”
Subsequently Nasirov was released from custody after posting bail in the amount of 100 million hryvnias.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "НАБУ завело проти Насірова нову справу про хабар і перевіряє рахунок у Латвії". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ANTIKOR.
