Case description
The NABU accuses Ivan Marakhovskyi, deputy head of the Izmail city prosecutor's office. Together with council member Boichenko, they allegedly demanded and received a bribe of USD 40,000.
According to the investigation, in June–September 2017, Ivan Marakhovskyi, deputy head of the Izmail local prosecutor's office of the Odesa region, and Ivan Boichenko, member of the Odesa Regional Council of the VII convocation, developed a criminal plan.
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According to the investigation, the director of Dunai Agros LLC became the target of pressure from deputy head of the Izmail City Prosecutor’s Office Ivan Marakhovskyi and Odesa Regional Council member Boichenko. Acting in collusion, they demanded an unlawful benefit from the entrepreneur in exchange for the “unhindered” operation of his company and related enterprises.
Marakhovskyi informed the businessman that he and the council member were to be paid $10 for each hectare of cultivated land. This sum was meant to guarantee that government bodies would not create obstacles to business activity. The victim refused, recognizing the unlawfulness of the demand.
In response, Boichenko launched a campaign to discredit Dunai Agros. During the summer, he spread negative information about the company among local residents and landowners, attempting to force them to terminate their lease agreements. At the same time, Marakhovskyi repeatedly met with the entrepreneur, telling him that the pressure could only stop after a personal meeting with the council member.
At the end of August, a commission of the Reni District State Administration inspected the use of land plots of Kahul PE, cultivated by Dunai Agros, and issued an report alleging “misuse.” On the same day, Marakhovskyi met the businessman near the Parmezan café, informed him that the inspection had been organized by Boichenko, and hinted at the need to agree to a bribe to avoid further inspections.
Later, Marakhovskyi and Boichenko discussed the bribe with the entrepreneur—$10 per hectare, about 3,500 hectares in total, amounting to $35,000. Under pressure, the entrepreneur agreed but, citing low yields, asked to reduce the amount. Marakhovskyi suggested providing an additional $10,000 separately for the leadership of the local prosecutor’s office, while Boichenko agreed to reduce the main sum to $30,000.
The money was handed over at a restaurant. First, Marakhovskyi received $10,000, and shortly afterward, in the presence of Boichenko, another $30,000, which, at the council member’s instruction, also went to Marakhovskyi. In return, they promised not to create obstacles to the company’s operations, to organize a repeated “positive” land inspection, and to assist in concluding a long-term lease agreement for the plot housing the company’s facilities.
The total amount of unlawful benefit came to $40,000. Both were detained afterward. Their actions were qualified under Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition, in November 2017, council member Boichenko was expelled from the Vidrodzhennia (Renaissance) party for violating party discipline and the party’s charter, as well as for actions discrediting the political force.
The HACC found them guilty. The former Odesa Regional Council member was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment, with a three-year ban on holding government and local self-government positions (excluding elected offices), and with confiscation of all property belonging to him.
The former prosecutor was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with a three-year ban on holding positions within the justice system, and with confiscation of all property belonging to him.
The case is currently under review by the HACC Appeals Chamber.
