Court releases $30 million belonging to the ex-head of Ukrhimtransammiak in Swiss bank
The Appellate Court of Kyiv released $29.6 million in an account in Vontobel Bank (Switzerland) which belongs to a company owned by Victor Bondik, the former general director of the state –run company Ukrhimtransammiak.
The court’s decision, handed down on January 31st, is available in the Common Register of Judgments.
The matter involves the non-resident company Spess Asset Management, of which Bondik is both the owner and ultimate beneficiary.
The funds were frozen by the Holosiivskyi Circuit Court on December 13, 2016 at the request of investigators of the Holosiivskyi Police Department in connection with criminal proceedings involving the embezzlement of 130 million grivna from Ukrhimtransammiak.
Previously, the money had been temporarily frozen by the General Prosecutor's Office of Switzerland in connection with a criminal investigation for money laundering. This investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Switzerland commenced on August 31, 2016.
On June 15, 2016, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade fired Bondik after nine years as head of Ukrhimtransammiak because of violations of both the law and contractual obligations, as well as for non-compliance with state financial inspection requirements.
Victor Bondik, brother of Valeriy Bondik, the former People’s Deputy of the Party of Regions, became a well-known figure after he built a 13-meter-high fence around his home in Bucha.
Ukrhimtransammiak was founded in 2001 and has a monopoly in Ukraine on transporting liquid ammonia via pipelines.