Anti-graft agency appeals against court ruling to release ex-Naftogaz head Kobolyev

Read also: Anti-graft court finds charges against former Naftogaz head unfounded

“A SAPO prosecutor sent an appeal to the HACC’s Appeals Chamber against the decision of the HACC’s investigative judge on the refusal to impose a pre-trial restriction against former Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, motivated, among other things, by the unfoundedness of the suspicion,” reads the report.

The SAPO prosecutors added they consider such a decision illegal and unfounded. They also believe that the investigation has gathered enough evidence regarding the risk of the suspects obstructing the pre-trial investigation.

The HACC’s Appeals Chamber will consider the prosecutor’s appeal on Feb. 8, 2023.

On Jan. 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the SAPO charged Kobolyev with the abuse of his official position to arrange for a payment of bonuses worth more than UAH 229 million ($6.2 million) back in 2018.

Read also: NABU suspects former Naftogaz head Kobolev of embezzling over $6 million

The prosecutor requested that Kobolyev be held in custody with an alternative bail of UAH 365 million ($9.9 million).

However, the court decided to leave him free.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine