A former head of one of the departments at the Prosecutor General’s Office has become a new suspect in Carthage Operation. According to investigators, he was responsible for passing bribes in cash and cryptocurrency through subordinates at the Prosecutor General’s Office and front couriers, as well as keeping count of who had paid, maintaining secrecy, and covering tracks.

His actions are classified as participation in a criminal organization (Article 255(3) of the Criminal Code) and aiding the giving of bribes (Articles 27(5) and 368(4) of the Criminal Code).

Investigators say those involved in Carthage set up a scheme to systematically provide cover for fraudulent call centers that scammed citizens of Ukraine and EU countries. They were paid for this protection, and the payments exceeded UAH 1 billion.

They also legalized the assets they obtained. Specifically, they spent more than UAH 20 million on real estate, jewelry, and luxury vehicles, and legalized more than UAH 10 million through individual entrepreneurs under their control.

According to information the HACC press service provided to Transparency International Ukraine, the other suspects remain in the pretrial detention facility. They are Serhii Kropyva (“the Chancellor”), the organizer of the criminal scheme; his accomplice Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko (“the Muse”); and lawyer Oleksandr Dydych. Only Kropyva’s driver, Serhii Kutsyi (“Comrade”), has been released on bail.