Traffic case of Servant of the People MP Trukhin: Kornienko unable to reach deputy, police hand case to SBI

The SBI will investigate the traffic accident case, as an official is involved.

The case of a traffic accident that, according to media reports, was caused by Servant of the People MP Oleksandr Trukhin while intoxicated, will be investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation. 

Meanwhile, Servant of the People party leader Oleksandr Kornienko said that he has been unable to reach Trukhin for several days.

Transfer of the case to the SBI

According to the Kyiv police, further investigation of the accident involving the MP has been assigned to investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation.

The procedural head determined the appropriate jurisdiction in favor of the State Bureau of Investigation, given that among those involved in the criminal proceedings is a People's Deputy of Ukraine.

The accident occurred on August 23 in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv. An Audi, failing to keep a safe distance while moving, rammed a Ford that was driving ahead. The Ford then hit a Daewoo. As a result of the three-car crash, six people were injured. 

That same day, criminal proceedings were opened under Part 1 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: violation of road safety rules or operation of transport by persons driving vehicles.

At the scene, patrol police and investigators documented all persons who were in the cars. When law enforcement arrived, the accident participants were standing by the cars, so it was necessary to precisely establish who had been behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

Police questioned the participants and witnesses, and collected fingerprints and other physical evidence. Police investigators have also already ordered a number of necessary expert examinations, including to establish the speed at which the car was moving.

During the initial investigative actions, one witness said that a man, who turned out to be People's Deputy of Ukraine Oleksandr Trukhin, was behind the wheel of the Audi. At the same time, other witnesses deny this testimony, saying that he was not the driver.

However, under the law, if there is information about a possible crime committed by a special subject (in this case, a People's Deputy of Ukraine), the procedural head is obliged to change the jurisdiction. 

Therefore, police investigators sent a letter to the prosecutor's office requesting the transfer of the materials of this criminal case to the appropriate law enforcement agency. All materials collected by police investigators will be fully transferred to the SBI.

Kornienko's reaction

Servant of the People party leader Oleksandr Kornienko told Radio Svoboda that he has not been able to get in touch with Trukhin.

Oleksandr Kornienko
leader of the Servant of the People party

He has had no contact with him for the past few days. He has some family matters, or media-family ones, I don't fully understand, but he too can't get in touch for now...

Kornienko said he saw Trukhin on August 28 at a meeting in the Office of the President, which concerned preparations for the next plenary week in the Verkhovna Rada.

Oleksandr Kornienko
leader of the Servant of the People party

But we did not discuss this situation, because at that time it was 'some unknown'. I don't remember whether I knew this information at that time. Because we learned about it, just like you, from open sources.

Kornienko added that he tried to contact Trukhin, 'but there is no connection and he is on vacation.'

Kornienko also added that Trukhin remains head of the Servant of the People cell in Poltava region, and only the regional conference can dismiss him, which has not yet made such a statement.

Kornienko said the party would respond with sanctions up to removal from office if facts are proven that Trukhin was behind the wheel and intoxicated.

However, according to Kornienko, he did not submit a request to the Interior Ministry or police about the accident involving the MP. He added that he expects a response from the police on Friday, September 3, and then may send a request to law enforcement.