Nikolay Romanchuk
The sensational story of the deputy governor of the Mykolaiv region (Mykola Romanchuk), who set up an underground safe deposit box on his estate, filled with gold bars, silver, antique icons, and other items worth a staggering sum, has taken an unexpected turn. As a reminder, Mr. Romanchuk, nominated for the Hero of Ukraine award (signed by Viktor Yushchenko), was arrested by officers of the Ukrainian military prosecutor's office for accepting a modest $92,000 bribe, as personally reported by Anatoly Matios, the chief military prosecutor.
During their arrest, the suspect and three accomplices (also officials, one of whom held the position of deputy district head) offered armed resistance, apparently deciding they had nothing to lose. The transaction, which was paid for in foreign currency, involved the issuance of a permit for the construction of a limestone quarry, as Matios also reported.
Those who had been fascinated by the reports from the scene of the search, which showed the life of a simple regional official in all its glory, and eagerly awaited the court's decision at the first hearing were met with bitter disappointment: Mykola Romanchuk, who had endlessly maintained his innocence, suddenly announced a hypertension attack and was taken away in an ambulance to an unknown destination. The judge could only shrug: the 72-hour detention period had expired, and the status of "suspect" did not entail any additional restrictions on freedom. Even the SBU acknowledged that Mr. Romanchuk was technically a free man and was forced to agree with the court's decision to postpone the hearing until the suspect had recovered.
SKELET-info
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