Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) announced on August 28 that it has added a suspect to its Operation Forrest Gump money-laundering investigation: an influential businessman and former Dnipropetrovsk regional council member, identified by the Anti-Corruption Action Center as Vasyl Astion.
Investigators allege Astion used informal influence over commercial court judges to help a criminal group secure favorable rulings, contributing to the seizure of two companies worth a combined UAH248 million ($5.6 million) in a corporate raiding scheme.
NABU also charged him with money laundering, saying the proceeds were used to help post bail for former energy minister Herman Halushchenko.
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