The Associated Press, Kiev, Ukraine, January 29, 2004

The court had rejected a similar request from prosecutors last week saying they failed to present sufficient cause.

Kozachenko is accused of allowing underpriced grain exports, which cost the government $283 million, and accepting $318,000 in bribes from two European companies when he served as director of the Ukrahrobiznes concern before joining the government, Zhuravska said. Kozachenko, who now heads a confederation of agribusiness groups, denies the charges. If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison.

In November, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling that acquitted Kozachenko of tax evasion charges.

The government blamed graft for a grain shortage in Ukraine. Kozachenko's supporters claim the charges were trumped up as part of a bid to re-impose state control over grain prices after harsh weather destroyed up to 90 percent of the winter crops in some regions.