Mykolaiv region vice governor, accused of bribe-taking, disappeared from hospital

Mykolaiv Regional State Administration First Deputy Head Mykola Romanchuk was discharged from the hospital and fled in unknown direction.

Journalist Dmytro Hnap wrote on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

Read more: Mykolaiv Deputy Governor bribe-taker Romanchuk hospitalized, judge called recess

He wrote: "Mykolaiv's 'Aladdin' Romanchuk escaped from the hospital. Our Odesa correspondent Olena Vasina has just spoken with the staff of the 3rd Odesa city hospital. They confirmed that Romanchuk was discharged in the afternoon and disappeared in unknown direction. Maybe he dug a tunnel...?"

As reported by the Hromadske Radio correspondent from Odesa, it became known by this evening that the suspect of extorting $92,000 in bribe had been discharged in spite of the high blood pressure he had the day before. His friends fetched him from the hospital. It is still unknown where the vice-governor betook himself.

The military prosecutor's office explained: "No supervision has been imposed against Romanchuk since a person is considered to be free under the law if no pretrial restriction has been imposed against one within 72 hours following one's arrest."

This means that no supervision has been imposed against him at all. The date of hearing, which should continue after Romanchuk's recovery, has not yet been defined.

It should be reminded that according to Main Military Prosecutor Anatolii Matios, four persons including First Deputy Chairman of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Mykola Romanchuk were detained in the case of taking a bribe for granting permission for a limestone quarry development.

Safes full of gold bars, ancient icons, antiques, silverware were discovered during raids in the houses owned by Romanchuk's family. The records confirming off-the-book financial schemes were also found in the vaults.