Former Ukrainian Energy Minister Halushchenko was served with a notice of suspicion in the Mindich case

Former Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko has been served with a notice of suspicion for alleged participation in a criminal organization and money laundering in the case involving businessman Tymur Mindych over alleged theft in the energy sector.

This was reported by the press service of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

The bureau published the outline of the case in which Halushchenko was notified of suspicion.

Investigators claim that in February 2021, a fund was registered on the island of Anguilla to attract around $100 million in “investments.” It was headed by a citizen of the Seychelles and Saint Kitts and Nevis, who, according to law enforcement, professionally provided services to launder criminal proceeds.

Among the fund’s “investors,” NABU says, was Halushchenko’s family. To conceal their involvement, two companies were created in the Marshall Islands and included in the structure of a trust in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The beneficiaries were listed as the former official’s ex-wife and four children.

According to investigators, through a proxy known as “Rocket,” the criminal organization obtained more than $112 million in cash from illegal activity in the energy sector. Part of the money was laundered through cryptocurrency and “investing” in the fund.

More than $7.4 million was transferred to the fund’s accounts, which were managed by the family. Another more than 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros were issued in cash and transferred directly to the family in Switzerland.

Part of the funds was used to pay for the children’s education at prestigious schools in Switzerland, and the rest was placed in deposit accounts.

Halushchenko has now been notified of suspicion under articles related to creating a criminal organization and laundering proceeds.

Recall that on the night of February 15, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office detained the former energy minister while he was attempting to cross the border.

Halushchenko—along with Mindych—is described as one of the key figures in the “Midas” case involving alleged corruption in the close circle of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After a corruption scandal in November last year, Halushchenko was dismissed, but at that time he had not been served with a notice of suspicion.