Judge who passed successfully qualifications assessment caught taking bribe

On April 24, 2018 judge of the Court of Appeal of Cherkasy region Volodymyr Ponomarenko passed qualifications assessment and was recognized as honest by the High Qualification Commission of Judges. The Commission confirmed his ability to execute justice with a high score. Since May he receives salary totalling to more than 100,000 UAH (around 3,700 USD) per month.

On August 27 he was arrested for bribery by NABU, SBU and SAPO. He was caught obtaining illicit benefits in amount of 30,000 UAH (around 1,100 USD). The judge demanded and received money from local citizen in order to have influence on judges of one of district courts of Cherkasy region, so they would make positive decisions in administrative cases in favor of this person. Law enforcement officers arrested the judge near the place of his residence right after he had received the full amount of illicit benefit.