Security Service officers in regional offices told to chip in US$1,100-3,300 for senior official's bail – sources

Officers in regional offices of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) have been told to transfer money to help cover bail for General Serhii Duka, who is suspected of involvement in a criminal organisation in the Carthage case.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement agencies

Details: Instructions to pay towards Duka's bail are circulating among staff at the SSU's Main Directorate D and its Main Directorate for Counterintelligence Protection of State Interests in the Sphere of Economic Security.

Operational officers are required to pay UAH 50,000 (about US$1,100) each. The amount rises to UAH 150,000 (US$3,300) for sector and department heads and their deputies.

A source said officers must make the transfer, take a screenshot of the receipt and send it to their superior. The department head then compiles a list and notifies Kyiv.

Previously: On 7 November, Ukrainska Pravda reported that a message was being circulated among SSU staff calling on them to contribute to a fundraiser for Duka's bail.

Background:

• On 4 November, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) served notices of suspicion on five members of a criminal organisation in the Carthage case, including Duka. Investigators believe the five regularly bribed senior law enforcement officials to let scam call centres and other illegal businesses operate without interference.
• Another suspect, National Police official Volodymyr Tsenov, was remanded in custody with bail as an alternative. US$330,000 in bail was paid for him on 6 November. Vitalii "Boxer" Rybalko, a suspect in the case, has been remanded in custody without the right to bail.
• Oleksandr Abakumov, head of a NABU detective unit, said Duka had threatened NABU detectives with a gun and smashed equipment with a hammer during a search of his property. Officers from the SSU's Alpha special forces unit attempted to evacuate him.
• On 6 November, journalists were barred from the courtroom as the High Anti-Corruption Court considered a pre-trial restriction for Duka. They were able to watch a livestream of the hearing in a separate room.
• Later that day, the court ordered Duka to be held in custody and set bail at UAH 65 million (US$1.4 million).

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