First whistleblower paid reward for reporting corruption -Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

Ukraine has handed a reward to a whistleblower for exposing corruption. It is the first case in 5 years after such policy was introduced, according to National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

The defense ministry’s auditor was paid the reward after he reported on a 24 million hryvnias bribe he was offered by  the ministry contractors seeking his positive reviews to help them secure 400 million hryvnias of state funding for a new project.

After the scheme was exposed, the Ukrainian court sentenced one of the defense ministry officials to 4.5 years in prison. The court though said no to giving the whistlelblower a due reward, arguing that his actions fell within his professional duties and did not qualify for compensation.

However, in late 2023, the Appellate Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court ruled in favor of the whistleblower, saying the reward was well deserved.

According to Ukrainian law, a whistleblower is entitled to a reward of 10% of the amount of the corruption offense or the damage caused to the state, following a guilty verdict.