Deputy chairman of Military court pleads not guilty of bribe

Yury Tuzau is charged with receiving a bribe of $20,000 for reversing a sentence.

A colonel of justice and a former deputy chairman of the Supreme Court pleads not guilty. Yury Tuzou stated that in the court room, udf.by informs.

The second person involved in the criminal case, Syarhei Shymchuk, who is charged with being a middleman in giving the bribe, admitted his guilt completely.

The charged events took place in spring of 2013.

According to the version of investigators, at that moment the Military court tried the case of Dvarynovich, who had been sentenced by Brest interpost military court to 5 years of deprivation of freedom, confiscation of property and a fine, 100 basic units. The convict is not a military man. He is involved in the case, one of the defendants in which was an officer of border service agencies.

The defendant addressed Syarhei Shymchuk, who was a friend of the deputy chairman of the court then, they studied in the law faculty of the Belarusian State University together. Shymchuk delivered a request to Tuzau to lighten the sentence to the defendant, and gave a reward of $20,000. As a result, the verdict to Dvarynovich was reversed.

The military judge received the money on April 24, 2013 during the meeting with his accomplice in one of the villages of Valozhyn district.

As the letter of accusation reads, there are no mitigating circumstances concerning Tuzau. There is an aggravating circumstance, as the crime had been committed for mercenary purpose.

As for Shymchuk, on the contrary: there are no aggravating circumstances, and a mitigating circumstance is his cooperation with investigators and a child of tender years who is dependent.