Jailed Ukrainian Ex-Minister Throws Book At Judiciary

KIEV, Ukraine -- Jailed former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko was expelled from Kiev courtroom after he threw a copy of Ukraine's Criminal Procedural Code at the prosecutor, who was announcing new criminal charges against him. The volume did not hit the prosecutor in the incident in the Ukrainian capital on June 1. Reports say that before throwing the book, Lutsenko interrupted the prosecutor several times with laughter and mocking behavior. Following Lutsenko's outburst, the judge adjourned the case until June 8. The new trial of Lutsenko concerns allegations that he abused his power as interior minister during an investigation into the 2004 non-fatal poisoning of former President Viktor Yushchenko. Lutsenko was sentenced to four years in prison in February after being convicted of embezzlement and abuse of office. He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated.