High Council of Justice Dismisses Judge Serhiy Vysotskyi Over Bribery Charges

The High Council of Justice has decided to dismiss judge Serhiy Vysotskyi of the Bolhrad District Court of Odesa Oblast for committing a significant disciplinary offense.

This was reported by the HCJ press service.

The judge is suspected of incitement to offer and provide undue advantage to officials in a responsible position, for officials to commit actions in the interests of the person providing such advantage using the power granted to them and for seizing someone else's property by deception (fraud).

In October last year, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine refused to grant a motion filed by the lawyers of Bolhrad District Court Judge Serhiy Vysotskyi to close the criminal proceedings against him.

In June of the same year, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine sent to court a case on charges of incitement to provide an unlawful benefit and committing fraudulent actions aimed at obtaining it, against a judge of the Bolhrad District Court of Odesa Region, Serhiy Vysotskyi.

The judge persuaded the citizen to offer and provide USD 4 thousand of bribe to two other judges for allegedly making the necessary decisions in cases of bringing to administrative responsibility.

Subsequently, the judge received the funds allegedly to be transferred to his colleagues, but instead disposed of them at his own discretion.

In April 2024, the High Council of Justice extended the temporary suspension from the administration of justice of Serhii Vysotskyi, a judge of the Bolhrad District Court of Odesa Region, for another two months.

On April 1, prosecutors completed the pre-trial investigation of the case and opened the investigation materials for defense lawyers to review. The High Council of Justice temporarily suspended the judge from administering justice in connection with the criminal prosecution on February 19.

He was detained on February 9, 2024. If proven guilty, the judge faces up to eight years in prison with or without confiscation of property.

Кирило Бойко