The case of Korets-based Judge Yevhen Kulyk

The case of Korets-based Judge Yevhen Kulyk
Start of the trial 18 July 2023
Instance HACC
Verdict type
Punishment type Imprisonment
Stage of criminal proceedings Execution of sentence

On August 25, 2023, the HACC approved the plea agreement and found Judge Yevhen Kulyk of the Korets Court of the Rivne region and lawyer Mykola Turovych, who had acted as a mediator, guilty. They received a USD 1,100 bribe to close a case on a DUI offense. 

Yevhen Kulyk had been a judge since 2014, and in October 2019, he underwent re-qualification. For USD 1,100, he promised to close the case against a citizen who was driving under the influence of alcohol. He received the money through an intermediary, lawyer Mykola Turovych, who also used to work in the Korets Court of the Rivne region. They were both exposed immediately after receiving the bribe.

The judge's actions were classified under Article 368(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. His accomplice was charged with Article 27(5), Article 368(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Both defendants concluded plea deals with the SAPO prosecutor.

Kulyk was given a suspended sentence with a probationary period of 3 years and banned from holding certain positions for 2 years. Lawyer Turovych got a probationary period of 3 years and was banned from practicing law for a year. The bail paid by the convicted persons was transferred to the Army of Drones project.

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Proceeding No. 52023000000000144
Case No. 991/6423/23
Date the hearing was scheduled 18/07/2023
Decision type Imprisonment
Decision status The sentence entered into force
Subjects
  • Lawyer
  • Judge
Qualification
Article 368, part 3
Pre-trial cases №
  • 991/4874/23
  • 991/4873/23
  • 991/4393/23
  • 991/3071/23
  • 991/3188/23
  • 991/3186/23
Instance Key parties
HACC 18/07/2023 Panel of judges: Moisak S.M.
THE CASE OF YEVHEN KULYK
Execution of sentence

Judge Yevhen Kulyk, with the mediation of lawyer Mykola Turovych, received a USD 1,100 bribe from a citizen whose case he promised to close. Both were given suspended sentences.

  • March 31, 2023
    the NABU exposed Kulyk and Turovych at the crime scene
  • pic
    April 4, 2023
    They were served with suspicion notices
  • April 11, 2023
    The HACC set UAH 700,000 bail for Kulyk and UAH 600,000 bail for Turovych
  • May 1, 2023
    The HCJ temporarily suspended Kulyk from his professional activities
  • July 18, 2023
    the SAPO submitted an indictment to the HACC
  • August 24, 2023
    The HCJ dismissed Kulyk from his position as a judge, as he had had resigned voluntarily
  • pic
    August 25, 2023
    The HACC approved the plea deal, found the judge and the lawyer guilty, and sentenced them to three years of probation with additional penalties

Decisions from the Register