MP Vadym Stolar could face tougher pre-trial restriction if bail is not posted within five days
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The court set bail for MP Vadym Stolar at 300 million hryvnias (Photo: Vadym Stolar via Facebook)
Ukrainian MP Vadym Stolar could have his pre-trial restriction changed if he does not post bail within the deadline set by the court, journalist Mykhailo Tkach of Ukrainska Pravda reported on Telegram on Sept. 13, citing sources in political circles
“The main problem for MP Vadym Stolar right now is the banks that must process the 300 million hryvnias ($6.75 million) of bail,” Tkach said, adding that the money must be deposited within five days.
“There are five days to post bail, and after that the preventive measure may change if it is not posted,” Tkach said.
On Sept. 8, it was reported that Stolar had returned to Ukraine.
On Aug. 19, he confirmed that law enforcement officers were conducting searches at his home. According to media reports, he is a figure in NABU’s Forrest Gump case involving an alleged scheme to launder 150 million hryvnias ($3.38 million).
On Sept. 11, Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court set bail for Stolar at 300 million hryvnias without ordering him into custody, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources.
Stolar was charged in absentia with creating a criminal organization, unlawfully seizing property, forging documents and unauthorized interference in information systems. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Operation Forrest Gump
On Aug. 19, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced a special operation called Forrest Gump to uncover a major corruption scheme.
The case concerns, among other things, the laundering of 150 million hryvnias in cash to pay bail for one of the suspects in the Midas case — former energy and justice minister Herman Halushchenko.
Among the suspects in the Forrest Gump case are former deputy head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra, former MP Maksym Mykytas and current MP Vadym Stolar, formerly of the now-banned Opposition Platform.
On Aug. 21, the court imposed pre-trial restrictions on Valentyn Yelizarov, former lawmaker Mykytas and Viktor Dubovyk, director general for legal affairs at the Office of the President, sending them to custody with the option of bail.
The next day, the High Anti-Corruption Court set a pre-trial restriction for Iryna Mudra, placing her under arrest with the option of 20 million hryvnias ($450,025) in bail.
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