Court remands "Carthage" suspect Rybalka in custody until January 2 without bail
The High Anti-Corruption Court has imposed a pretrial measure on Vitalii Rybalka, who is implicated in NABU and SAPO's "Carthage" case. He is accused of involvement in a criminal organization linked to providing "protection" for a network of fraudulent call centers.
Censor.NET reports.
The court remanded Rybalka in custody for 60 days without the option of bail.
According to investigators, Rybalka, whom those implicated called Boxer, carried out the organization's "dirty work" — violent crimes such as beating and torturing people.
Hearing details
During the hearing, the prosecutor presented a video showing Rybalka and other men attacking a man. The prosecutor said they struck him with an object prepared in advance and with their hands. The attackers had assigned roles beforehand: who would beat the victim and who would hold him.
Investigators also have correspondence between Vitalii Rybalka and the criminal organization's organizer concerning the attack on the man.
The defense lawyer argued that the video could have been generated using artificial intelligence. He also said it was impossible to identify the people in the video, as investigators had obtained it from the scheme organizer's phone.
The prosecutor said the risks concerning Vitalii Rybalka included evading investigators and the court. There was also evidence of strong ties within the criminal group, whose members could help transport the suspect abroad or to territory outside Ukraine's control.
Another case against Rybalka, concerning extortion and unlawful deprivation of liberty, is already being heard at Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court. Criminal proceedings concerning suspected robbery, extortion and fraud are also under investigation.
Vitalii Rybalka's lawyer argued that the case materials were inaccurate and that the correspondence between Rybalka and the scheme's organizer had been "distorted." The lawyer asked the court to reject the motion for remand in custody.
In court, Rybalka himself denied knowing those implicated in the case, but said he knew Osipov because they were, he claimed, from the same city.
"I don't understand what these names are, who these people are, what this is. They called me Klitschko there (the name under which Rybalka was saved in the contacts of those implicated in the case — Ed.). Why didn't they call me Tyson?" Rybalka said.
Regarding the video of the beating on July 7 included in the case materials, Rybalka also denied that it showed him and said he had been "at home or at the gym" that day.
The SAPO prosecutor sought remand in custody without the option of bail. Alongside the usual risks, such as flight, influencing witnesses and destroying evidence, the prosecutor also said the suspect could "pose a physical threat" to victims and witnesses.
NABU's Operation "Carthage"
- NABU earlier reported that a senior Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) official was threatening to use a weapon and obstructing a search.
- The Bureau subsequently said that NABU and SAPO had exposed a criminal organization that systematically bribed senior SSU, National Police, and prosecution officials to provide "protection" for fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses.
- NABU said that the "Carthage" investigation had exposed a criminal organization whose members had arranged systematic bribes to senior law enforcement officials to ensure the unhindered operation of fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses.
- It was subsequently reported that anti-corruption authorities had detained General Serhii Duka, first deputy head of the SSU's Department for the Protection of National Statehood.
- SSU chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior Service officials implicated in NABU's investigation under Operation "Carthage." He also suggested that a suspect in the case known as "Mexican" return to Ukraine and surrender to law enforcement.
- NABU and SAPO named five suspects in providing cover for illegal businesses. Those implicated include senior Security Service of Ukraine and National Police officials.
