Case description
On March 3, 2023, the HACC found lawyer Ivan Kozak, who was an intermediary in the transfer of a bribe to Kolomyia Court Judge Volodymyr Pyatkovskyi, guilty of closing the case against the lawyer's client. Kozak got a 5-year suspended sentence.
In early September 2022, lawyer Ivan Kozak suggested that his client negotiate with the judge to close the case against him. Namely, the man committed an administrative offense: he was driving a car under the influence.
Later, after the conversation, Volodymyr Piatkovskyi, the judge of the Kolomyia City District Court, agreed to rule in favor of Kozak's client and asked for a USD 1,000 bribe. In addition to this amount, the lawyer asked the client for another USD 200 for his “services.” Both the judge and the lawyer received the money.
The court qualified Kozak’s actions under Article 27, part 5; Article 368, part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 5 years in prison with a ban on practicing law for 2 years. Since Kozak concluded a plea agreement, the sentence was changed to a suspended one with a 3-year probationary period.
