Criminal Group Foiled in Attempt to Seize Missing Scientist's Estate

Criminal Network Uncovered

According to Главком: Law enforcement has dismantled a criminal group that attempted to seize the assets of scientist Mykola Kolbun following his disappearance. Mykola Kolbun, an academic of the Ukrainian and European Academies of Sciences and a specialist in bioengineering, vanished in March 2022 during the Russian occupation of Bucha, where he lived alone. The value of the scientist's assets exceeds 18 million hryvnias. This case highlights the heightened risks faced by individuals, including prominent academics, in conflict zones.

The perpetrators, who included Kolbun's acquaintance, her roommate, and a friend from Russia's Chechen Republic, forged a will. They replaced the genuine document with a counterfeit by tampering with the Inheritance Registry, drafting a will in Kolbun's name that favored the woman, and initiated a court procedure to have the academic declared deceased.

Investigation and Consequences

The investigation involved 16 searches across various regions of Ukraine, the questioning of over 30 witnesses, and the seizure of equipment and documents confirming the criminal activity. The woman and her roommate have been notified of suspicion, while their accomplice, a Russian citizen, has been charged in absentia. The suspects face charges for:

• Unauthorized handling of information
• Document forgery
• Attempted large-scale fraud

The court has ordered the suspects to be held in custody, with bail as an alternative measure.

A parallel investigation into Mykola Kolbun's disappearance is ongoing. Human remains were discovered near the location where the scientist's phone was found. The Prosecutor's Office has initiated DNA testing to identify the deceased. Official statistics reveal a significant increase in inheritance-related legal activity in Ukraine, with over 521,000 inheritance certificates issued in the first half of 2024-a 15% rise from the previous year. The number of wills also increased by 16.2%. The investigation continues.

This situation underscores not only the serious problem of fraud in inheritance matters but also the challenges related to the security of scientists and their property rights in the context of armed conflict.

The scientist's disappearance and potential murder have caused concern within the scientific community and could impact future research and the development of bioengineering in Ukraine. The investigation into this case, along with statistical data showing a rise in wills, points to an intensification of legal processes in the inheritance sphere, likely a consequence of the socio-economic hardships Ukrainians face during the war.