You're reading: Prosecutors suspect Kurchenko of crimes in banking sector

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has reported that Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, who had close ties to disgraced former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, is suspect of committing UAH 5.6 billion worth of crimes in the banking sector.

“The main investigation department of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office jointly with the investigator procedural department has drawn up a report finding that Kurchenko, as the head of the criminal group, is suspected of committing grievous crimes in the banking sector in 2013 and early 2014. These are the results of the exhaustive and unbiased investigation,” the public and media relations department of the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Kurchenko over this period organized the illegal seizure of UAH 5.6 billion of funds from the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), Ukrgasbank, Agrarian Fund, depositors of Brokbusinessbank and Real Bank.

“Later the criminal group headed by Kurchenko used the companies to launder money,” the department said.

Kurchenko has been put on the international wanted list.

Property and other assets totaling over UAH 2.8 billion have been arrested. The pretrial investigation is underway.