170 million of Energoatom's funds embezzled during PSPP construction; two suspects identified - SAPO
Kyiv • UNN
SAPO has notified two individuals of suspicion regarding the embezzlement of 170 million UAH from Energoatom. During the construction of the PSPP, the cost of equipment was inflated nearly twofold.
Two individuals have been notified of suspicion for the embezzlement of nearly UAH 170 million from SE "NNEGC "Energoatom" during the construction of the Tashlyk Pumped Storage Power Plant (PSPP) in the Mykolaiv region, the SAPO reported on Tuesday, UNN writes.
Under the procedural guidance of a SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives notified two individuals of suspicion after they were exposed for embezzling nearly UAH 170 million from SE "NNEGC "Energoatom" during the construction of a critical infrastructure facility in the Mykolaiv region – the Tashlyk Pumped Storage Power Plant (PSPP),
As reported by the SAPO, the individuals involved are:
- "the de facto owner of a number of companies – the organizer of the scheme";
- "the former head of a department of the 'Atomproektinzhyniryng' separate subdivision of SE 'NNEGC 'Energoatom'".
The actions of the suspects are qualified under Part 5 of Art. 191 (Misappropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure of it by abuse of official position) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Currently, the organizer of the scheme has been detained in accordance with Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, the SAPO reported.
Case details
As reported by NABU, according to the investigation, the work on the completion of the Tashlyk PSPP was carried out by one of the companies belonging to the scheme's organizer. "Despite the failure to meet deadlines and the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings against the company, supplementary agreements were systematically concluded with it, changing the list and scope of work, as well as the deadlines for their execution. This became possible due to the influence of the company's de facto owner on Energoatom officials," NABU indicated.
Within the framework of the pre-trial investigation, as reported by the SAPO, "it was established that the suspects implemented a scheme to embezzle funds from the state enterprise during the construction of the PSPP by involving a company controlled by the scheme's organizer."
As noted by the SAPO, the aforementioned company supplied the state enterprise with a set of equipment for the PSPP's automated control system worth UAH 305 million. "However, it turned out that the purchase took place through a controlled foreign company, and the cost of the equipment was inflated by almost UAH 170 million," the report says.
As indicated by the SAPO, the set of equipment for the PSPP's automated control system with a total value of over UAH 305 million was purchased "under one of the supplementary agreements, of which more than 70 were concluded in total."