Deputy Head of Kyiv Region’s Criminal Police Detained Without Bail in 'Carthage' Corruption Case

High Anti-Corruption Court Detains Senior Police Official Amid 'Carthage' Investigation

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On November 6, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) ordered the detention without bail of the Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police in Kyiv region until January 2, 2027. This decision followed a prosecutor’s motion from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The suspect, known by the alias 'Consultant,' is accused by investigators of overseeing security and shielding illegal activities.

Authorities believe the individual behind the alias is Oleksandr Demyanchuk, who faces multiple charges under the Ukrainian Criminal Code. These include participation in a criminal organization (Part 3, Article 255), torture (Part 3, Article 127), and counterfeiting currency (Part 3, Article 199). The court has also imposed preventive measures on other suspects connected to the 'Carthage' case.

• On November 5, a decision was made regarding Volodymyr Tsenov, Deputy Head of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police, who was placed in custody for 60 days with bail set at 15 million UAH.
• Vitaliy Rybalka was also ordered detained without the option of bail.

The 'Carthage' case involves exposing a criminal network that provided illicit payments to senior law enforcement officials in exchange for protection of fraudulent call centers. According to the investigation, these bribes secured the uninterrupted operation of these scam schemes. The criminal enterprise reportedly involved high-ranking figures from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), National Police, the Office of the Prosecutor General, as well as representatives of the criminal underworld.

On November 4, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO revealed details of the bribery scheme targeting law enforcement officers. Following procedural actions, the National Police suspended the implicated officers from duty pending investigation. Additionally, SBU Chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior SBU officials implicated in the case.

Developments Surrounding the 'Carthage' Investigation

Among those under suspicion is Serhiy Kropyva, Deputy Head of the Department of International Legal Cooperation at the Office of the Prosecutor General. Following the arrests within the Prosecutor General’s Office, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned, and on September 15, the president officially removed him from office.

It was reported that on the night of September 14, Kravchenko left Ukraine on an official trip by government vehicle and has not returned since.

The 'Consultant,' Oleksandr Demyanchuk, holds the position of Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department within the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv region, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Center. The case continues to attract significant public and institutional scrutiny.

The 'Carthage' investigation highlights the deep-rooted corruption challenges facing Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies. The extensive involvement of officials in criminal activities points to systemic flaws in oversight and accountability. This ongoing probe could have profound implications for reforming the country’s justice and policing systems.

The ongoing investigations into the 'Carthage' case have led to significant developments, including the recent decision to set a high bail for another key figure involved. For more details on the implications of this ruling and its impact on the broader investigation, see how the Anti-Corruption Court addressed the case against Tsenov, which reveals the intricate connections between law enforcement and criminal enterprises. Read more about this case here.