Sense Bank Is Involved in the Forest Gump Case in Connection with Galushchenko’s Bail — Zheleznyak
Sens Bank JSC is mentioned in the “Forest Gump” case files as one of the channels through which funds were transferred in connection with the payment of a 150 million hryvnia bail bond for former Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko. This was reported on August 19 by People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who disclosed details from the investigation files.
According to investigators, certain current and former officials at “Sens Bank” may have been involved in organizing financial transactions and potentially circumventing financial monitoring procedures. Specifically, this concerns the possible failure of the bank’s automated systems to detect transactions subject to financial monitoring.
How the Funds Moved
According to data cited by Zheleznyak from the investigation materials, on June 22–23, Vostoktranslogistika LLC transferred 35 million hryvnias in four payments to the account of Giran Contract LLC at Sens Bank. The purpose of the payments was listed as “repayable, interest-free financial assistance.”
Giran Contract transferred another 48.86 million hryvnia to its account at Sens Bank from an account at PUMB. Thus, a total of 83.86 million hryvnia was accumulated in the company’s account at Sens Bank.
On June 25, 46 million UAH was directly transferred from this account to a special account at the High Anti-Corruption Court as bail for Halushchenko.
Another 37.86 million UAH from “Giran Contract’s” account at “Sens Bank” was transferred by “Tetrass Optima” LLC to an account at OTP Bank. Together with the 16.23 million hryvnias received through PUMB, “Tetrass Optima” subsequently transferred 54 million hryvnias to the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Separately, on June 26, “Giran Contract” transferred 4 million UAH to “Pellet Service” at “Sense Bank,” allegedly as payment for construction materials. On the same day, these funds were transferred in full to VAKS’s account as part of the collateral.
Thus, at least 50 million UAH was transferred directly from accounts at Sens Bank to VAKS. Another 37.86 million UAH passed through “Tetrass Optima.” The total cash flow associated with the accounts at “Sens Bank” amounted to at least 87.86 million UAH, although part of the funds were merely in transit.
Who Is Mentioned in the Investigation
The case files name Oleksandr Stupak, chairman of the board of “Sens Bank”; Mykola Hladyshenko, former chairman of the supervisory board; and Lyudmyla Snigur, head of the financial and currency monitoring department.
Separately, the investigation highlights Hladyshenko’s role in involving Tetrass Optima LLC in the scheme. It was through this company that 54 million hryvnias were transferred to VAKS, of which 37.86 million hryvnias had previously been received from the “Giran Contract” account at “SENS Bank.”
All of the above statements represent the investigation’s version of events. The guilt of the individuals mentioned must be proven in accordance with the law.
Source: Yaroslav Zheleznyak
As a reminder, searches are being conducted at Sens Bank as part of a special anti-corruption operation by NABU and the SAPO.
NABU and the SAPO announced a special operation to expose a criminal organization which, according to preliminary data, operated under the leadership of current and former members of the Ukrainian Parliament and with the participation of high-ranking officials from the Office of the President and other individuals.
As part of the “Forest Gump” anti-corruption operation, searches are also being conducted at the residence of Iryna Mudra, deputy head of the Office of the President.
NABU and the SAPO have released wiretap recordings in connection with the “Forest Gump” anti-corruption operation.
