High Anti-Corruption Court Grants Forfeiture of Assets
The High Anti-Corruption Court has ruled in favor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) in a case involving assets belonging to the family of a former tax official. The official served as head of the anti-money laundering department at the State Tax Service's main office in Sumy region. The total value of the assets, which exceeds 7 million Ukrainian hryvnias, includes a Lexus RX 350 and four pieces of real estate. The court ordered these assets to be forfeited to the state, with a 30-day window for appeal.
Lawsuit Stemmed from Lifestyle Monitoring
The lawsuit was filed based on lifestyle monitoring materials prepared by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The contested assets consist of:
- A Lexus RX 350 valued at 3.1 million UAH;
- Four real estate units: three apartments and a parking space, together worth 3.9 million UAH.
The vehicle was purchased in 2023 by a friend of the former official, but it was the official's wife who actually drove it. The properties, acquired between 2020 and 2023, were registered in the name of the official's mother-in-law. The NACP detected signs that these assets were obtained without sufficient proof of legal income. The court declared them unjustified and ordered civil forfeiture.
This case is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign in Ukraine aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability within state institutions.
The ruling could serve as a significant step in combating corrupt practices that undermine trust in public institutions. It also sends a clear signal to other officials about the consequences of illicit enrichment.
In a similar case highlighting the ongoing efforts against corruption, Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Court recently seized over $200,000 in assets from a former tax chief. Such rulings underscore the commitment to combat illicit enrichment among public officials. For more details on this significant development, see our coverage of the seizure of assets from the ex-tax chief.