HACC keeps defendant in 'Carthage' case in custody with bail set at 120 million hryvnias
The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) has decided to keep the preventive measure unchanged for one of the key defendants in a large-scale case known as Operation "Carthage." The judges rejected the defense's appeal, meaning the suspect remains in custody with the option of posting bail.
According to the court's decision, the bail amount for the defendant, a citizen by the name of Kropyva, is set at 120 million hryvnias. This ruling is part of an investigation into corruption schemes that have caused significant damage to Ukraine's state interests. The "Carthage" case concerns the activities of an organized group that operated in the defense sector for a long time.
The investigation claims that the suspects used their official positions to obtain illicit benefits during public procurement. Law enforcement agencies continue to collect evidence and analyze financial documents to identify all participants in the criminal scheme and return funds to the country's budget.
The suspect's lawyers attempted to challenge the bail amount, calling it excessive, but the court found the prosecutors' arguments convincing. The judges took into account the severity of the alleged crime and the risks that the suspect might evade the investigation or influence witnesses.
The investigation is currently ongoing, and law enforcement officials are preparing to submit the case to court for a trial on the merits. This HACC decision demonstrates the judicial system's consistent stance in the fight against corruption under martial law, where every instance of misappropriation of state funds is particularly sensitive for society.