Ukrainian authorities have raised suspicions against a prominent figure, believed to be jailed tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky, in connection with an attempted murder case dating back more than two decades. The national police revealed on Wednesday that the individual in question, who has faced legal troubles including charges of fraud and money laundering, is now being linked to this serious crime.
Kolomoisky, a key supporter of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the 2019 election, has consistently denied any involvement in the aforementioned criminal activities. His legal representative has not yet provided a response to the recent allegations related to the attempted murder case.
The police, in an official statement, disclosed that a well-known Ukrainian oligarch has been served a notice of suspicion for allegedly orchestrating a premeditated murder. While the suspect was not explicitly named, a photograph with a partially obscured face was shared by the authorities, strongly indicating the identity of Kolomoisky, who is recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Ukraine and was taken into custody last year.
If found guilty of the alleged murder attempt, the suspect could potentially face a life sentence as the maximum punishment. The national police detailed that the individual had reportedly resorted to threats after failing to persuade a lawyer to assist in reversing an adverse shareholders' decision at a metallurgical plant back in 2003.
According to the police statement, the suspect, through his bodyguard, purportedly instructed four members of a criminal group to carry out an attack on the lawyer during the summer of 2003 in Feodosia, a city located in Crimea.