Deputy of Odesa Prosecutor's Office found guilty of corruption

Maksym Rakovych, deputy head of the Odesa regional prosecutor's office, became a defendant in a criminal case. In addition, his ex-wife and current cohabitant Valentyna Rakovych is also a defendant in the case.

According to UNIAN, they are suspected of illicit enrichment and entering false information in their declarations.

According to the publication, the case concerns assets worth more than UAH 52 million, which were probably acquired illegally. The investigation was initiated by the Brotherhood of Defenders NGO, which filed a complaint with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Initially, the prosecutor's office refused to launch the investigation, but the court upheld the activists' position and ordered the criminal proceedings to be initiated.

Investigators are checking numerous facts of real estate purchases by the Rakovych family. In particular, it was found that in 2023, the prosecutor's mother was registered as the owner of a house in the village of Sanzhiika and an apartment in Odesa, and his mother-in-law was registered as the owner of another apartment. In addition, in 2018, Maksym Rakovych's parents gave him UAH 650 thousand each.

The couple's divorce in 2019, according to the declaration, turned out to be formal, as they continue to live together.

The SAPO opened two proceedings: one on the fact of illicit enrichment, the other on the basis of false information in the declarations. If the charges are confirmed, the suspects face criminal charges:

• For illicit enrichment - 5 to 10 years in prison with disqualification to hold certain positions for up to 3 years.
• For entering false information in the declaration - a fine, community service, or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

Meanwhile, Serhiy Biba, a deputy of the Odesa Regional Council from the banned OPFL, concealed assets in his declaration and failed to explain his daughter's expenses.

During a full audit of the declaration of Oleksandr Urbanskyi, Deputy Chairman of the Odesa Regional Council, for 2023, the NACP found inaccuracies totaling 540 thousand hryvnias.

In addition, the NACP found false information in the declaration of Yurii Shumakher, who is a beneficiary of the Rostdorstroy road company and a deputy of the Odesa City Council from the Trust the Deeds faction.

Ірина Глухова