The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have officially notified Herman Halushenko, the former Minister of Energy and Justice, of suspicion. The former official is accused of participation in a criminal organization and large-scale money laundering as part of a corruption operation known as "Midas."
According to the NABU press service, as reported by "Hvylya," the High Anti-Corruption Court has already ordered the suspect to be remanded in custody. A bail of 200 million UAH has been set as an alternative.
The investigation established that the former official, who headed the Ministry of Energy from 2021 to 2025 and the Ministry of Justice in 2025, was a key link in a shadow scheme dubbed "Shlahbaum" (The Barrier). Describing the mechanism, the NABU press service stated: "This involves kickbacks that contractors of the state-owned Energoatom were required to pay in order to receive payments for completed contracts."
To legalize the illicit flows, the group registered a special fund on the island of Anguilla in February 2021, designed to attract $100 million in "investments." The structure was headed by a citizen of the Seychelles who professionally provided services for laundering criminal capital.
The official's family was directly involved in the legalization process. To conceal the real owner, two companies were established in the Marshall Islands and integrated into a trust structure in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The suspect's former wife and his four children were named as the official beneficiaries. These offshore companies acted as fictitious "investors," purchasing shares in the fund where the scheme participants transferred bribes into accounts at three Swiss banks.
During the minister's tenure, a confidant nicknamed "Rocket" helped the criminal organization obtain over $112 million in cash through manipulations in the energy sector. These funds were processed through cryptocurrency and the shell fund.
Investigators documented direct transfers to the relatives of the former top official. "It has been established that over $7.4 million was transferred to the fund accounts managed by the suspect's family," law enforcement officials stated.
In addition, the family received cash and direct transfers to Switzerland totaling 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros. The illicit funds were used to pay for education at prestigious Swiss institutions, top up the personal accounts of the former spouse, and fund deposits that generated additional income for the family.
Notably, Herman Halushenko was detained by NABU detectives while attempting to leave the country. He was removed from a night train.
Previously, SAPO revealed the hierarchy of the "Midas" case and announced the bail amount for Halushenko.
