The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has completed the pre-trial investigation into a criminal organization that, according to investigators, established a conversion center to pay minimal taxes. More than 200 controlled companies were involved in the scheme. This was reported by the SAPO, according to UNN.
Details
The SAPO prosecutor has decided to conclude the pre-trial investigation in the case regarding a criminal organization involved in creating a conversion center and engaging over 200 controlled companies to implement a tax minimization scheme. Among the suspects are the former Acting Head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, the former Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in the Poltava region, and 9 other individuals
According to the investigation, members of the criminal organization established a conversion center that utilized more than 200 legal entities to minimize tax payments.
The SAPO notes that the scheme's operation was made possible through systematic abuse of office by officials of the State Tax Service of Ukraine and the Main Directorate of the STS in the Poltava region. The investigation also established facts of bribery of officials by members of the organization.
Tax invoices containing false information successfully passed automated monitoring due to abuses by officials of the STS of Ukraine and the Main Directorate of the STS in the Poltava region during decision-making regarding the non-compliance of VAT payers with risk criteria and the consideration of VAT payer data tables. Detectives found and decrypted detailed records of illicit benefits maintained by STS officials using a series of measures to keep such information confidential
According to preliminary information, the criminal organization maintained a high level of secrecy and used various methods to conceal its activities. In particular:
- the use of remote servers located
outside the country for document storage;
- the application of numerous diverse
VPN service settings to mask their real IP addresses;
- the use and regular changing of numbers from foreign
mobile operators;
- bribery and pressure on individuals whom the criminal organization
used as front officials for the companies.
It should be noted that as a result of the conversion center's operations, more than 147 million hryvnias in taxes were not paid to the budget. The actions of the individuals are classified under Part 1 of Art. 255, Part 2 of Art. 255, Part 3 of Art. 212, Part 2 of Art. 364, Part 4 of Art. 368, and Part 3 of Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
Currently, NABU detectives have opened the case materials to the defense for review.