On May 13, the HACC Appeals Chamber considered the defense's appeal against the HACC verdict, under which Judge Ihor Saraiev of the Prymorskyi District Court of Mariupol and his assistant Tetiana Zolotar were sentenced in absentia for accepting a bribe.
Ihor Saraiev and Tetiana Zolotar suggested that the person involved in a case concerning driving under the influence “discuss” the matter, and during a personal meeting, the judge demanded UAH 15,000 to close the case allegedly due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. After receiving the money in two installments, the judge and his assistant divided it between themselves.
The defendants’ actions were classified under Article 368(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Judge Saraiev was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison with confiscation of property and a three-year ban on holding the positions of judge, prosecutor, or attorney. Zolotar received a six-year prison term with similar additional penalties. Therefore, the HACC Appeals Chamber upheld this sentence.