Lawyer under Article 199 of the Criminal Code – Production, storage, acquisition, transportation, forwarding, import into Ukraine for the purpose of use in the sale of goods, sale or sale of counterfeit money, state securities existing in paper form, state lottery tickets, excise tax stamps or holographic protective elements

Article 199 of the Criminal Code reveals the reasons why counterfeiting of money and securities is subject to strict liability.

Crimes related to the mass printing of fake banknotes, for example - hryvnias or dollars, undermine trust in the national currency. And the price of imported goods, utility tariffs, etc. depends on the exchange rate of the hryvnia. That is, such crimes can cause rapid inflation and a blow to the country's economy.

The situation is similar with the forgery of government bonds, treasury bills, and promissory notes. The state will not receive funds from their implementation, which will affect the ability to finance important programs and projects.

That is why the law protects the established order of monetary circulation and issuance of banknotes, the monopoly right of the National Bank to issue national currency, the proper circulation of foreign currency in Ukraine in accordance with international agreements.

What actions fall under Article 199 of the Criminal Code?

Under Article 199 of the Criminal Code, any actions with counterfeits are subject to criminal liability:

• hryvnia banknotes and coins
• foreign banknotes and coins
• by government securities holders on paper
• state lottery tickets

At the same time, it does not matter how high-quality the fake is - even a partial imitation is considered a crime.

Production, storage, purchase, transfer, import and sale of fakes are punishable. Criminals can only be physical convicts over the age of 16 who acted intentionally.

What is the term of punishment prescribed by the article?

Such actions are punishable by 5 to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, depending on the circumstances: repetition, group of persons or large amount of forgery.

It is important to remember! The norms of Article 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine exist to protect the monetary circulation and financial security of the state from criminal encroachments. After all, the spread of fake money and securities poses a real threat to the country's economy.

Need to involve a lawyer

If you are accused of a crime under Article 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, you should immediately seek help from specialized lawyers. Cases involving the production, storage, and sale of counterfeit money and securities are extremely complex and require the involvement of experienced lawyers, because:

1. Proceedings in cases under Article 199 of the Criminal Code require careful study of numerous case materials, expert opinions, which requires in-depth legal knowledge and practical experience.
2. Effective defense in such cases involves the development of a balanced legal position and strategy based on a comprehensive analysis of the evidence base in order to potentially refute them or mitigate the punishment.
3. Investigative authorities often use a wide arsenal of procedural actions, limiting the rights of suspects/accused persons, and therefore a professional lawyer must protect their legitimate interests.
4. Successful defense of a legal position in court requires not only legal literacy, but also oratorical skills, skills in collecting and analyzing evidence, etc. from the defender.

That is why, in the case of incrimination of a crime under Article 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, it is necessary to immediately seek legal assistance from the company "Prykhodko and Partners", whose lawyers have many years of successful experience of defense in proceedings.