Supreme Court bribery scheme: four more judges implicated (PHOTOS)

NABU and SAPO have expanded the circle of suspects in a large-scale corruption case involving the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The new suspects include three current and one retired Supreme Court judges. According to the investigation, while serving on the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, they received a bribe in exchange for a ruling favoring the owner of the "Finance and Credit" group.

The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court is responsible for adjudicating the most complex and exceptional legal disputes.

One such dispute involved former shareholders challenging the 2002 sale agreement for 40.19% of the shares in the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant, acquired by the businessman who owns the "Finance and Credit" group.

While the court of first instance dismissed the claim, the appellate court overturned that decision in 2022 and declared the contract invalid. Given the complexity of the case, its cassation review was handled by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court.

To avoid losing his shares, the businessman transferred $2.7 million through an intermediary between March and April 2023. The funds were given to a lawyer—a member of the Supreme Court's so-called "back office"—who was supposed to pass the money to the Chief Justice and other judges to secure the "desired" ruling.

On May 15, 2023, the Chief Justice and the lawyer were caught red-handed receiving the second tranche of the bribe, amounting to $450,000. The former top official is currently standing trial at the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).

The businessman was served with a notice of suspicion in July 2023, followed by the intermediary in September 2025.

On October 15, 2025, the HACC Appeals Chamber granted permission for a special pre-trial investigation in absentia against the owner of the "Finance and Credit" group.

In May 2026, the indictment against the intermediary was sent to court.

Exposing the Supreme Court judges involved in the bribery scheme became possible after investigators obtained crucial additional evidence, which NABU and SAPO deem sufficient to hold these individuals criminally liable.

The investigation is ongoing, with detectives continuing to look into the possible involvement of other persons.