The High Anti-Corruption Court has decided to keep former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in custody for another two months. This was reported by the court’s press service on April 15, noting that the former minister could be released on bail of 200 million hryvnias, subject to a number of procedural obligations.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Case Circumstances and Positions of the Parties
In March, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court upheld the chosen preventive measure for Herman Halushchenko. Earlier, on February 17, the court had ordered his detention with an alternative of posting bail of 200 million hryvnias. It was reported that appeals had been filed by both sides: the defense insisted on easing the preventive measure, while the prosecution demanded an increase in the bail amount to 425 million hryvnias.
Halushchenko was detained on February 15 while crossing the state border in connection with the ‘Midas’ case, as confirmed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. During the court hearing, the former minister stated that he did not attempt to flee, and if he had such an intention, “he would have escaped.”
Nature of the Charges and Investigation Details
Herman Halushchenko is suspected of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. Investigators claim that in February 2021, a fund was registered on the island of Anguilla, which was supposed to attract about 100 million dollars in so-called “investments.” The head of this fund, according to the investigation, provided services for legalizing income obtained through criminal means. According to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, over 7.4 million dollars, as well as 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros, were transferred to the fund’s accounts controlled by the suspect’s family, either in cash or directly transferred to the family in Switzerland. Part of this money, according to investigators, was used to pay for Halushchenko’s children’s education in prestigious Swiss institutions, while the rest was placed in deposits that generated additional income for the family.
“As an alternative, the court left the bail at 200 million hryvnias, which, if posted, imposes a number of procedural obligations on him,” stated the High Anti-Corruption Court.
According to journalistic investigations, Herman Halushchenko’s son has been studying at the Swiss College Alpin Beau Soleil for the fourth consecutive year, where the annual cost of education with accommodation can reach 200,000 dollars. In the former minister’s declarations, the children are mentioned, including after the parents’ divorce in 2022 and the family’s departure from Ukraine, but the expenses for the son’s education were not declared. Overall, the education expenses over four years could amount to about 700,000 dollars, significantly exceeding the official income and declared savings of the Halushchenko family. The former minister’s lawyers claim that the issue of paying for education is handled by his ex-wife.
During the court session, Herman Halushchenko commented on the payment of his children’s education, stating that “everything is done legally there.”