Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies have served businessman and former member of the Dnipropetrovsk Region Council Vasyl Astion with a notice of suspicion as part of the new “Forrest Gump” probe. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said Friday, Aug. 28, that Astion was allegedly recruited by the leaders of a criminal organization because of his informal connections and influence in the judicial sector.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “NABU and SAPO have expanded the circle of suspects in the case of a criminal organisation specialising in raids, property fraud and the laundering of criminal assets,” NABU said in a statement. Alleged role in the scheme The agencies claim that Astion helped secure favorable court rulings to companies and individuals linked to the organization. According to investigators, he was allegedly involved in corporate raiding of two companies whose combined assets were valued at Hr. 248 million ($5.6 million). Separately, the agencies accused Astion of helping launder proceeds that were later used to post bail for a suspect in the separate “Midas” corruption case involving former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Astion’s actions were classified under the following parts of Ukraine’s Criminal Code: Part 2 of Article 255, concerning participation in a criminal organization; Part 4 of Article 28 and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 206-2, concerning unlawful seizure of property; and Part 4 of Article 28 and Part 3 of Article 209, concerning money laundering.