Appeal returns $100,000 to head of Western Appellate Commercial Court

The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court has decided to return to the head of the Western Appeal Economic Court, Maksym Zhelyk, $100,000 seized during a search of his home. In total, over $271,000 in cash was seized from the head of the court.

The search was carried out as part of an investigation into the extortion of $1 million in bribes by Lviv judges Borys Plotnitsky , Vasyl Artymovych , and Mykhailo Yurkevich.

In November 2024, NABU detectives conducted a search of Maksym Zhelik's apartment. The search was conducted as part of an investigation into a bribery case involving the now former chairman of the Lviv Regional Commercial Court, Vasyl Artymovych, a judge of this court, Mykhailo Yurkevich, and the chairman of the Western Commercial Court of Appeal, Borys Plotnitsky, for influencing the decision-making of judges of the Western Commercial Court of Appeal.

During a search of the current chairman of the Western Appeal Economic Court, Maksym Zhelik, an Apple iPhone 16 Pro and over $271,000 in cash were seized. During an examination of the phone in the WhatsApp application, detectives found chats with judges of the Western Appeal Economic Court, which were completely or partially cleared. The chats had a function of auto-deleting messages. They also found an exchange of calls and messages with arrangements for meetings between Maksym Zhelik and Vasyl Artymovych.

When asked about the origin of $271,000 in cash, Maksym Zhelik said that $100,000 were savings that were indicated in the declaration for 2023, and another part was savings for 2024. This was also confirmed by his wife, judge of the Lviv District Administrative Court Oleksandra Zhelik.

Another $150,000, as Maksym Zhelik explained, was given to him by his father for safekeeping for the purpose of possible purchase of real estate in the future.

At the end of December 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court granted the prosecutor's request and seized Maksym Zhelik's mobile phone and seized $271,000 in cash. According to the investigation, the court chairman may have received part of these funds ($100,000) as an illegal benefit.

Maksym Zhelik appealed this decision.

The Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine decided to return to Maksym Zhelyk $100,000 declared by him in his 2023 declaration. At the same time, $171,000 was left under arrest, as they do not correspond to the declared monetary assets, as well as the income received.

Maksym Zhelik headed the Western Appeal Economic Court at the end of August 2024, replacing Borys Plotnitsky, who was detained for bribery.

Recall, we previously wrote that the Supreme Court of Justice authorized the arrest of Judge Savitsky.