Tenfold Discount: Former Sense Bank Chairman Stupak Was Granted Only 15 Million Bail

The High Anti-Corruption Court showed notable mercy toward the figure in the high-profile Forest Gump case. Instead of 150 million hryvnias that the prosecutor demanded, the suspended chairman of Sense Bank, Oleksii Stupak, was assigned a bail ten times smaller and his days were brightened with a stylish electronic bracelet.

The investigative judge of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office partially granted the request, which strongly wanted to see the banker behind bars with an opportunity to buy his way out for an astronomical sum. However, the court decided to limit the bail to 15 million hryvnias, which Mr. Stupak must deposit into a bank account within five days.

So that the suspect does not suddenly decide to relocate to a sunnier place, the court imposed on him a classic gentleman’s set of restrictions for two months:

prohibition from leaving Kyiv and the region without blessing from a detective or prosecutor;

obligation to surrender foreign passports and appear on summons to NABU;

wearing a inseparable accessory — an electronic monitoring device.

As a reminder, the career turbulence in the life of the former head of the state bank began 19 August, when he was officially suspended from his post. According to NABU and SAP, Sense Bank under the leadership of the defendants in the Forest Gump operation suddenly turned into a convenient financial autocue. Through a network of shell companies, they successfully laundered 150 million hryvnias in cash to issue as bail for another star of anti-corruption chronicles — former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who is involved in the 'Midas' case.

The full text of the ruling will be announced in 7 September, so Mr. Stupak still has time to carefully study his new home obligations and check the charge on the electronic bracelet.

«Argument»