Court arrests ex-Health Minister Bohatyriova in absentia

Kyiv's Pechersky District Court has imposed pre-trial detention on former Ukrainian Minister of Health Raisa Bohatyriova, who was also placed on the international wanted list, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said in response to a request for information made by the online publication Tyzhden.ua.

According to Tyzhden.ua, the PGO continues its criminal investigation proceedings dated June 11, 2014 in which Bohatyriova is suspected of committing a crime under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (large-scale embezzlement).

The PGO reported that the suspect's financial resources of $100,000 and UAH 300,000 have been frozen for the duration of the investigation.

At the same time, there is no information currently available on whether her flat or other property belonging to Bohatyriova and her family has been seized.

However, according to Tyzhden.ua, the PGO press service released information on the seizure of three apartment in Kyiv, an apartment in Yalta, and three houses in the village of Pidhirtsi in Obukhiv district in Kyiv region, that probably belong to Bohatyriova and her husband.

As reported, the PGO on March 20, 2015 reported that Pechersky District Court had imposed pretrial detention on Bohatyriova in absentia.

On October 21, 2014, the PGO placed Bohatyriova on its wanted list after launching criminal proceedings against her on the large-scale embezzlement of state budget funds.