“Slawomir Novak was detained in Poland on suspicion of committing a number of corruption criminal offenses”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The official’s name and surname are not specified in the message, but it is clear from the details of the case that it is Slavomir Novak.
In their petition, Ukrainian law enforcement officers ask their Polish colleagues to take over the criminal prosecution of a citizen of their country who did not comply with the decision of the Ukrainian courts and left the country.
“During 2017-2019, the official deliberately did not comply with the decisions of the local and Supreme Courts of Ukraine regarding the reinstatement of the head of the Highway Service in one of the regions and actively obstructed justice. Because of this, fines were imposed on the State Agency of Highways, and the ex-driver of “Ukravtodor” was warned of criminal liability for ignoring court decisions,” the SBI says.
On September 30, 2019, the official terminated his powers at his own will, left the borders of Ukraine and was detained in Poland on suspicion of committing a number of corruption criminal offenses.
At the end of July 2020, the NABU reported that Slawomir Novak, the former acting head of Ukravtodor, who headed Ukravtodor in 2016-2019, was declared a suspect. He is accused of accepting an offer, promise or receiving an illegal benefit from an official (Article 368 of the Criminal Code).
After that, the Warsaw prosecutor’s office also brought charges against Slawomir Nowak, who is a Polish citizen and was the country’s minister of transport and water management in 2011-2013.
In Poland, Novak is suspected of leading an organized criminal group that profited from corruption. The proceedings refer to the solicitation and receipt of property and personal benefits in exchange for awarding contracts to private entities for the construction and repair of roads in Ukraine, as well as the laundering of funds obtained during these crimes.
Novak himself denies accusations of corruption.