Ukraine’s Tax Service offers NABU, SAPO full cooperation in employee probe

Ukraine's State Tax Service has pledged full cooperation to anti-corruption agencies, NABU and SAPO, in their investigation into allegations involving one of their employees. The agency emphasized its commitment to a "principled stance against any unlawful activity," regardless of the employee's position. The Tax Service stressed the importance of establishing facts objectively and impartially, strictly adhering to the law, and noted that only a court can confirm guilt based on proper evidence.

The investigation stems from recordings released by NABU, part of Operation Carthage, which identified a criminal organization led by an official who oversaw divisions within the Prosecutor General's Office. Members of this organization allegedly set up a system for collecting bribes to avoid interfering with call centers that defrauded Ukrainians and foreigners.

These proceeds were then laundered through various schemes. Investigators reported that over 20 million hryvnias were spent on real estate, jewelry, and valuable movable property.

The organization's leader allegedly laundered more than 12 million hryvnias by re-registering property in the names of third parties, including real estate in a popular Carpathian apartment complex. Additionally, members placed over 10 million hryvnias in associates' bank accounts, disguising the money as legitimate income. On September 4, NABU announced a special operation that led to the detention of Serhiy Kropyva, the head of the Prosecutor General's Office cyber department.

The Prosecutor General's Office later confirmed its willingness to cooperate fully with anti-corruption agencies investigating the alleged illegal activities linked to the scam call centers.