Operation Forrest Gump: anti-corruption agencies serve businessman Vasyl Astion with notice of suspicion
A businessman and former member of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council has been served with a notice of suspicion by the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) for involvement in a criminal organisation linked to raiding and money laundering.
Quote from NABU: "NABU and SAPO have expanded the circle of suspects in the case of a criminal organisation specialising in raids, property fraud and the laundering of criminal assets. The suspect is an influential businessman and former member of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council in its seventh convocation."
Details: Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement have identified the suspect as Vasyl Astion, who is one of the people featured in the NABU and SAPO recordings released as part of Operation Forrest Gump.
Investigators say the leaders of the criminal organisation – a sitting and a former Ukrainian MP – involved Astion in their activities in order to make use of his informal connections and influence in the judiciary.
In particular, he ensured that commercial court judges would issue rulings in favour of companies or individuals linked to the criminal organisation.
Astion was involved in the raiding of two companies with assets worth UAH 248 million (about US$5.5 million).
The anti-corruption authorities also say the businessman helped launder criminal proceeds so that the money could later be posted as bail for a member of another criminal organisation in the Midas case.
Previously:
- On 19 August, Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach reported that the individuals caught on NABU and SAPO's Operation Forrest Gump tapes had mentioned the name "Vasia" in a discussion about raising bail money for former energy minister Herman Halushchenko. The name was believed to refer to businessman Vasyl Astion.
- On 20 August, a SAPO prosecutor revealed a list of the people mentioned in the Forrest Gump and Themis cases.
Background:
- On the morning of 19 August, Ukrainska Pravda sources reported thatNABU and SAPO were conducting searches as part of a special operation at premises belonging to MP Vadym Stolar and Iryna Mudra, then deputy head of the President's Office. Stolar confirmed that investigative actions were being carried out at his home and said he was cooperating with NABU.
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