Photo: detector.media
The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has ruled to take businessman Timur Mindich into custody in absentia as part of a corruption case involving kickbacks at state-owned energy company Energoatom, Suspilne reports.
According to prosecutors, Mindich was represented by a state-appointed lawyer, but investigators were unable to establish direct contact with him. Because the ruling was issued in absentia, no bail was set.
Prosecutors also claim that Mindich attempted to pressure former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to influence procurement of substandard body armor.
Following the court’s decision, the case can now be submitted to Interpol for an international search and arrest. Mindich’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Earlier reports indicated that Mindich — a longstanding business associate and friend of the Ukrainian president — left the country the night before searches took place, crossing into Poland through the Hruszów checkpoint. Media suggest he and another suspect in the case, Oleksandr Tsukerman, are currently in Israel.
