The Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC) watchdog and Interfax-Ukraine reported the request on Aug. 25.
The court postponed the hearing on Stupak’s pretrial detention until Sept. 2. Stupak asked for a recess, claiming because his health had deteriorated and he needed to go to a hospital.
Another member of Stupak’s defense team addressed the court, arguing that the bank’s financial monitoring system operated within the law. The lawyer said the system is automated and that the bank maintains a register of suspicious transactions, making it technically impossible to manually make transactions that would not be logged by the system.
The SAPO prosecutor argued that detention was necessary because Stupak is a flight risk. The proposed bail amount was explained by citing Stupak’s financial position. According to the prosecution, the suspect’s assets exceed UAH150 million, making a smaller amount insufficient as a deterrent.
On Aug. 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced the launch of a special operation called “Forrest Gump.” According to NABU, investigators exposed a group that laundered UAH150 million ($3.4 million) in cash to pay bail for one of the suspects in the "Midas" case. Although NABU did not name the individual, the reference is likely to former energy minister Herman Halushchenko, for whom bail in that exact amount was posted in late June.
According to investigators, the scheme involved a deputy
head of the Presidential Office, a former lawmaker, and the chairman of the
management board and chairman of the supervisory board of a state bank. To
carry out the plan, the group allegedly used a state bank and accounts
belonging to companies it controlled. Searches that day took place at the head
office of Sense Bank.