Testimony given at the now-concluded trial of Paul Manafort has spurred a criminal investigation in Ukraine into alleged business dealings between the convicted felon and former state officials, Radio Free Europe reported.
Ukraine's prosecutor-general announced Tuesday that the government will begin a probe into the alleged $65.9 million paid to Manafort by at least six oligarchs and politicians for consulting work during the regime of Viktor Yanukovych, former Ukranian president.
It is against Ukranian law for state officials to engage in business, and four of those officials who allegedly hired Manafort held public office during that time, RFE reported.
"There has been testimony that Manafort received funds for his consulting services for disgraced ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions from specific politicians of Ukraine," top prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko said Tuesday.
"Therefore, we opened a criminal case into possible violations of these state officials at that time," Lutsenko said.
A jury in Virginia on Tuesday convicted Manafort on eight of the 18 counts brought against him for bank and tax fraud.
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