Bribe-taking judge from Odesa region mobilizes to the Armed Forces to close case against him

The High Council of Justice considered a petition filed by Valentyn Zaveriukha, a judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Oblast. He asked to suspend the disciplinary case against him, citing his mobilization to the Armed Forces.

This was reported by the HCJ.

The complaint against the judge's actions was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). It refers to alleged disciplinary violations during the consideration of several court cases.

Despite mobilization, the disciplinary chamber decided that the judge's participation in the case was possible. In its decision, it noted that Zaveriukha could join the hearings via video conference or through a representative. The judge was also invited to familiarize himself with the case file, but he did not do so.

The HCJ raised additional questions about the timeliness of the mobilization. It is known that Zaveriukha was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the opening of the proceedings. This raised doubts about the sincerity of his motives, as judges are not mobilized in Ukraine without their consent.

The High Council of Justice emphasizes that the disciplinary case is currently ongoing, and mobilization will not be a reason to stop it.

In January 20 24, the SBU, together with the NABU, detained a judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi court in Odesa region. According to the investigation, the judge took bribes of $ 3,500 to make decisions that allowed men of conscription age to avoid mobilization and go abroad.

The scheme has been in place since April 2022. During this time, more than a thousand such decisions were "formalized". The court fictitiously determined the place of residence of the children for the men, which allowed them to receive a deferral from mobilization. The scheme involved court employees, a lawyer, and intermediaries. The lawyer searched for clients and passed on bribes.

The SBU and the NABU documented the fact that one of the judges received a bribe.

Meanwhile, the lawyer who transferred the money to Judge Ilya Lonsky of the Prymorskyi District Court of Odesa made a deal with the investigation and pleaded guilty. The HACC approved a plea agreement in relation to lawyer Yevhen Berestovyi.

Earlier, the HACC suspended the hearing of the case of Ilya Lonsky, a judge of the Prymorskyi District Court of Odesa, who is suspected of bribery. The reason is the mobilization of the judge to the Armed Forces.

Ірина Глухова