SAPO asks court to arrest Yermak

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has asked the High Anti-Corruption Court to remand former Head of the President's Office Andrii Yermak into custody and set an alternative bail of UAH 180 million.

SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko has announced this at a briefing, according to the Ukrainian News agency.

"The prosecutor's office will request a preventive measure in the form of detention with the alternative of posting bail in the amount of UAH 180 million," Klymenko said.

According to the investigation, Yermak is suspected of involvement in a money laundering scheme during the construction of luxury real estate. Yermak himself has denied the allegations.

Currently, the High Anti-Corruption Court is determining a preventive measure for Yermak. 

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the NABU and the SAPO have expanded the circle of suspects in the case of money laundering on an especially large scale. Six more individuals have been notified of the charges, including former Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Chernyshov and businessman Timur Mindich. Yermak denied owning a home in the “Dynasty” housing cooperative and that he is the “Surgeon” from the Mindich “tapes.” NABU notified Yermak of the charges in the “Dynasty” case in Kozyn. Yermak’s lawyer considers the charges unfounded and denies his involvement in the “laundering” of UAH 460 million.