Position: Member of the Gambling and Lotteries Regulation Commission.
Sphere of corrupt activity: gambling business.
Region of corruption activity: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia.
Qualification: Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (bribery of a person who provides public services).
It is punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of eight to twelve years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to three years, with confiscation of property.
Status: The Cabinet dismissed Hetman from the position of a member of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, and Hetman himself left Ukraine.
The plot of the case: Hetman's case began back in 2021. According to the investigation, Hetman demanded and received an unlawful benefit from the alleged representative of a private entrepreneur for the Commission's decision in his interests.
It was about recognizing two hotels in Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia as those that can organize and conduct gambling.
The investigation lasted a little over a year.
On October 10, 2022, the High Anti-Corruption Court took up the indictment for consideration. At the stage of the preparatory court session, Hetman's lawyers made a number of motions. Namely, they asked to return the indictment to the prosecutor and announced the recusal of two judges. To which the defense received a refusal.
On November 24, 2022, the preparatory meeting was to continue. However, the accused Hetman sent a new petition to the email of the High Anti-Corruption Court. In it, he stated that he would not be able to come to court.
"In the justification of the petition, (Yevgen Hetman) notes that he will not be able to ensure direct participation during the preparatory court session, because due to the state of war and the deterioration of the energy situation in the country, he was forced to temporarily leave with his wife and three minor children to Switzerland," - it is said in the court decision.
At the same time, Yevgeny Hetman said that he wants to participate in court sessions remotely, via video conference. As a result, Themis granted such a request. The next meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2023.
Separately, it is worth emphasizing: before leaving the country, a preventive measure was applied to the accused in the form of cash bail in the amount of 5 million hryvnias.
His defense attorney filed a motion to reduce the amount of bail.
He explained this by the fact that during the war he traveled abroad several times, as he was engaged in volunteer activities. However, he returned each time to participate in court sessions.
The court reduced the amount of bail to UAH 4.5 million and at the same time emphasized that the accused has a legal opportunity to travel abroad, as he is the father of three minor children. He also has enough financial resources to move and live abroad.
It is worth noting that on December 2, 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Hetman from the position of a member of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries.
Persons potentially involved in corruption: there is no information in open sources regarding Hetman's alleged accomplices.
Wealth: in his declaration for 2021, Hetman indicated that he and his family own two apartments and a plot of land.
He also owns the following cars: BMW 530, 2005, cost at the date of acquisition of the right — 249,000 UAH and Nissan Micra, 2006, cost at the date of acquisition of the right — 83,275 UAH.
In addition, he also, in particular, received UAH 1,140,559 in wages for his main place of work.
Hetman also indicated that, in particular, he has $140,000 in cash, and his wife has $53,000 in cash.
Scandals: in open sources there is no information about other scandals in which Hetman appears.
Persons who should have reacted to corruption schemes during his tenure: in the case of Hetman, the law enforcement officers reacted in time, however, the suspect himself left Ukraine.
Sources:
A hotel in Chernihiv appears in the case of a member of the Gambling Commission arrested for bribery
Unified state register of declarations
An ex-officer accused of bribery fled Ukraine
The Cabinet of Ministers fired a member of the Gambling Commission whom NABU suspects of bribery
NABU detained a member of the Gambling Commission for bribery
VAKS refused to change the preventive measure of a member of the Gambling Commission
VAKS arrested a member of the Gambling Commission
VAKS again continued the investigation in the case of a member of the Gambling Commission