Photo: stroyobzor.ua
The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has ordered former Ukrainian MP Maksym Mykytas to be held in custody with the option of UAH 30 million bail. Mykytas is one of the suspects in the high-profile NABU and SAPO investigation known as “Forrest Gump.”
The court also imposed additional obligations, including appearing when summoned and wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet. Mykytas has five days to appeal the ruling.
Prosecutors sought higher bail
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office had requested detention with an alternative bail of UAH 200 million.
Mykytas’s lawyer argued that the prosecution’s claims about a risk of the former MP fleeing were speculative and unsupported by evidence.
Mykytas himself said he would not challenge the charges against him and asked the court to impose a reasonable bail amount or house arrest.
“Forrest Gump” investigation
NABU and SAPO announced the operation on August 19, saying they were investigating an alleged criminal organization reportedly led by a sitting and a former MP and involving officials from the Office of the President.
Sources identified among the possible suspects presidential office deputy head Iryna Mudra, MP Vadym Stolar and former MP Maksym Mykytas.
NABU later released recordings of intercepted conversations in which participants allegedly discussed money transfers and involvement of presidential office officials. Investigators also reportedly recorded discussions about influencing a competition for the head of SAPO.
On August 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mudra from her position without specifying a reason.
Later that day, the Cabinet suspended Sense Bank supervisory board chairman Mykola Hladyshchenko and initiated the suspension of the bank’s CEO. According to investigators, UAH 150 million in cash was allegedly laundered through accounts at the bank as part of the scheme.
