In Ukraine, there are proposals to significantly change the procedure for making bail in criminal proceedings, primarily in corruption cases. People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that he, along with colleagues, registered a draft law aimed at preventing the provision of bail from funds of questionable origin and making this process more transparent.
Draft Law on Bail: What Changes Zheleznyak Proposes
According to the deputy, the need for changes arose after a number of high-profile cases where large bail amounts for those suspected of corruption crimes were provided by little-known companies or legal entities, the financial capabilities of which raise questions.
Zheleznyak emphasized that bail should be a guarantee of proper behavior of the suspect, not a mechanism for quick release from custody using funds of unknown origin.
The document proposes four key changes:
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mandatory verification of the origin of funds for any bail, regardless of its amount;
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the possibility to suspend the acknowledgment of the bail until the verification is completed;
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confiscation of funds to the state revenue if their lawful origin is not confirmed;
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mandatory disclosure of information about individuals or companies that provided the bail.
Making Bail in NABU Cases Public
Yaroslav Zheleznyak believes that transparency regarding those who provide bail will help increase the transparency of the system and prevent the use of fictitious companies for depositing large sums. According to him, the relevant data should be published by the State Judicial Administration.
At the same time, the deputy stressed that his legislative initiative does not abolish the institution of bail. Instead, it should ensure the verification of the sources of funds analogous to the financial monitoring that citizens undergo during large banking transactions.
Currently, the draft law is registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The next step should be its consideration by the parliamentary committee, after which the document may be put to a vote in the session hall.
Earlier, Zheleznyak announced an assault on corrupt officials due to EU requirements and 90 billion euros.