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Defendant in "Onyshchenko gas case" Postnyi detained by NABU on new indictment. PHOTO
Valerii Postnyi, who was released from Lukianivske pretrial detention facility and indicted under "Onyshchenko case," has been again detained by the Spetsnaz of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
As reported by Censor.NET, this was announced by Hromadske TV.Last night, Postnyi was released from Lukianivske pretrial detention facility as the detention term under the first indictment ended. However, at midnight he was again taken into custody by the Spetsnaz of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under new suspicion, the news report says.
Postnyi is charged with organization of a criminal ring.
Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine (SAP) says the detention of Postnyi had been dragged by his lawyers. Solomianskyi court of Kyiv will hear the case on June 16.
Eight people are currently on the wanted list over Onyshchenko case. Onyshchenko himself has fled abroad. Postnyi has been permanent resident of Germany since 1996, owns property in Germany and on Cyprus.
Valerii Postnyi and Oleh Riaboshapka are suspected of involvement in a corruption scheme on stealing gas together with Ukrhazvydobuvannia, and of money laundering.
On March 16, the NABU raided the office of Onyshchenko. It stated the searches were carried out under the pre-trial investigation into abuse of office during the sale of natural gas extracted jointly with Ukrhazvydobuvannia SE.
Later, the NABU requested the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) to remove the immunity from people's deputy Onyshchenko. Moreover, the NABU and the PGO claim Onyshchenko is involved in embezzlement of 1.6 billion hryvnia (approx. $64.02 million).
On June 16, Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko issued a motion requesting Verkhovna Rada's consent for criminal prosecution, arrest, and pre-trial detention of Onyshchenko. On July 5, the parliament approved the detention and arrest of the lawmaker.
The suspect himself stated he was busy with the preparation for the upcoming Olympics and not going to react to NABU's actions. On July 29, Onyshchenko said he was in the U.K. and had applied for political asylum.
On Dec. 1, 2016, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced it suspected fugitive MP Onyshchenko of high treason. As noted, the MP acquired Russian citizenship in exchange for cooperation with Russian authorities to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. On the same day, Onyshchenko said he had provided compromising materials against President Poroshenko to the U.S. intelligence.
