Suspects in the Mindich case sought to involve the deputy heads of SAPO and the SBI in corruption

Two court hearings on corruption in Energoatom contracts have begun simultaneously in Kyiv.

In one, which was adjourned yesterday, the court continues to choose a preventive measure for suspect Ihor Myroniuk (nicknamed “Rocket” on the wiretaps), who was an adviser to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. In the other, a preventive measure is being chosen for Dmytro Basov (“Tenor”), who was Energoatom’s executive director for security.

Interesting details of the case are emerging in court, voiced by SAPO prosecutors.

Thus, the prosecutor in Myroniuk’s case told the court that the suspect tore up and threw documents out the window during his detention, and also tossed out his mobile phone.

And the prosecutor in Basov’s case said that “Sigismund” on the “Mindich tapes” is former energy minister Halushchenko. He also appears on the recordings under the nicknames “Professor” and “Energy Minister.” For now, Halushchenko is a figure in the case, but not a suspect—although, according to the investigation, he is the one who brought Myroniuk and Basov into the corruption scheme.

In addition, the prosecutor stated that Myroniuk and Basov discussed bringing in the deputy head of SAPO, Oleksandr Klymenko, to cover up the large-scale theft of funds.

From another dialogue between the case figures, read aloud by the SAPO prosecutor, it also became clear that the State Bureau of Investigation may be involved in Mindich’s corruption scheme.

“So we’ll agree like this: we handle ourselves, and let the SBI guys take some 5% for themselves. Because they go around looking for that money, looking for earnings,” the prosecutor quoted the suspect as saying.