Law enforcement officers exposed a scheme to misappropriate public funds during the procurement of dynamic protection elements for armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The dealers artificially inflated the cost of the products ordered for the Ministry of Defense, and the resulting "difference" was hidden in the shadows. The deal caused losses to the state budget of almost UAH 12 million. Five people, including the former head of the state-owned enterprise, were notified of suspicion. UNN reports this with reference to the NABU and the SBU.
Details
According to the NABU, in the active phase of Russia's full-scale offensive in April 2022, there was an urgent need to provide Ukrainian armored vehicles with dynamic protection elements. To meet this need, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine signed a contract with a specialized state-owned enterprise.
The SBU added that an agreement was signed with a machine-building company in Kyiv.
At the same time, the head of the state enterprise, in collusion with the chief accountant, decided to seize public funds by artificially inflating the costs associated with the contract. In addition, having the necessary components, they provided documentation of their fake purchase from a commercial entity, which became the basis for the illegal payment of public funds to it," the NABU said in a statement.
Reportedly, as a result of these transactions, the state suffered losses of almost UAH 12 million, which their participants transferred to controlled accounts for further legalization.
The former CEO of the state-owned enterprise, its accountant, and one of the key players in the scheme - the head of the commercial structure through which the defendants diverted budget funds into the shadow - have been served with a notice of suspicion.
Their actions are qualified under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- ч. 5 of Art. 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office);
- ч. 3 of Art. 209 (legalization (laundering) of the proceeds of crime);
- ч. 2 of Art. 366 (forgery in office).
The head of the commercial structure was detained in Kyiv. The issue of choosing a measure of restraint is being decided.
A former assistant to the head of a state-owned contractor and his accomplice, a person who provided his own details for cashing the stolen money, were suspected.
The former head of a state-owned contractor and its chief accountant, who are hiding abroad, were also served with suspicion in absentia.
Comprehensive measures are currently underway to bring the perpetrators to justice. The offenders face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The investigation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.