Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court refuses to overturn suspicion against Mindich, who did not appear in court "because Ukraine is under attack"
The Appeals Chamber of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court reviewed the appeal lodged by the lawyer of businessman Tymur Mindich, a suspect in the Midas case, and refused to cancel the notice of suspicion served to him.
Source: Anti-Corruption Action Centre reporting from the courtroom
Details: The Anti-Corruption Action Center said that at the start of the hearing, the defence lawyer requested the court to allow Mindich to join the hearing online. He explained Mindich's absence by saying that "Ukraine is under attack and the case against him is political persecution".
Quote from the lawyer: "As soon as the concerns for his life and health fall away, he is ready to come and communicate."
More details: The court ultimately refused because Mindich is wanted, there are no circumstances preventing him from appearing in court, and it is impossible to properly verify his identity if he joins the hearing online.
The decision was made by a panel of judges consisting of Serhii Bodnar, Danyil Chornenko and Ihor Panaid.
The court also rejected the appeal on its merits and left unchanged the previous ruling of the High Anti-Corruption Court refusing to cancel the notice of suspicion.
Read more: The president's men: how Zelenskyy's friends plundered Ukraine during the war
Background:
- On 15 April, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court also extended the pre-trial detention by two months for former Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko, who, together with Mindich, is a suspect in the Midas case.
- Sanctioned businessman Timur Mindich, who is suspected of corruption in the energy sector, said earlier he could return to Ukraine, but believes he would be arrested and given bail so high that he would be unable to pay it.
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