Police in Ukraine say a former university rector suspected of bribery is on the run after slipping free of his monitoring bracelet while under house arrest.
Police announced that Petro Melnyk, former rector of the National Tax Academy, escaped house arrest in Kyiv.
Both police and prosecutors said they would investigate the matter.
The Interior Ministry last year bought hundreds of electronic bracelets for $860 each.
The ministry rejects questions about the quality of the bracelets, saying that the same model is being used in a number of European Union countries, Russia, and Israel.
There has been speculation that the bribery case against Melnyk, an ex-lawmaker from the ruling Party of Regions, is connected with a power struggle between Ukraine's prime minister and the minister of revenues and duties.
Police announced that Petro Melnyk, former rector of the National Tax Academy, escaped house arrest in Kyiv.
Both police and prosecutors said they would investigate the matter.
The Interior Ministry last year bought hundreds of electronic bracelets for $860 each.
The ministry rejects questions about the quality of the bracelets, saying that the same model is being used in a number of European Union countries, Russia, and Israel.
There has been speculation that the bribery case against Melnyk, an ex-lawmaker from the ruling Party of Regions, is connected with a power struggle between Ukraine's prime minister and the minister of revenues and duties.