Prosecution seeks $3.4 million bail for Sense Bank head

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has requested a $3.4 million bail for Oleksii Stupak, the suspended CEO of state-owned Sense Bank. This request, filed on August 25, was reported by the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC) and Interfax-Ukraine. The court has postponed the hearing until September 2. Stupak requested a recess, citing deteriorated health and the need for hospitalization.

A member of Stupak’s defense argued that the bank’s financial monitoring system operates within the law and maintains a register of suspicious transactions, making manual transactions without logging them impossible. SAPO asserted that Stupak poses a flight risk, citing his financial status. According to prosecution, Stupak’s assets surpass UAH150 million, rendering a smaller bail insufficient as a deterrent.

NABU launched a special operation on August 19, "Forrest Gump," exposing a group that laundered UAH150 million ($3.4 million) to secure bail for an individual in the Midas case. While NABU did not name the individual, the reference likely pertains to former energy minister Herman Halushchenko, whose bail was posted in late June.

The investigation involved a deputy head of the Presidential Office, a former lawmaker, and the chairman of the management board and supervisory board of a state bank. Searches at Sense Bank headquarters took place that day.