Presidential bill on illicit enrichment passes first reading

The Verkhovna Rada approved at first reading presidential bill No.1031 "On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine on the confiscation of illegal assets of persons authorized to perform state or local government functions and the punishment for acquiring such assets."
A total of 316 MPs supported the adoption of the draft law at a parliament meeting on Wednesday, with at least 226 votes required to make a decision, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The document provides for the return of criminal punishment for illegal enrichment, considering the conclusions of the Constitutional Court. The acquisition of assets will be considered illegal if their value exceeds 15 thousand tax-free minimum incomes (about UAH 14.5 million).

In particular, the bill introduces 5 to 10 years of imprisonment for illicit enrichment, with a deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions and engage in certain activities. Such assets may be subject to special confiscation. At the same time, if the difference between the acquired assets and the legal income will range from UAH 960 thousand (500 subsistence wages for the able-bodied) to UAH 11.2 million, assets will be withdrawn by court in line with civil procedure.

Appeals for the recovery of assets will be considered by the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court and be submitted by prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

As Ukrinform reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 29 submitted the bill to criminalize illegal enrichment and defined the document as urgent.