A scheme to withdraw 360 million worth of bank real estate through Russian connections is revealed
Kyiv • UNN
SBI uncovered a scheme to illegally withdraw real estate of a Kharkiv bank worth UAH 360 million. Six people are suspected of transferring the property to companies associated with a Russian bookmaker.
Suspicions have been served on 6 people who helped companies affiliated with a well-known Russian bookmaker to withdraw real estate from a bankrupt Kharkiv bank, the State Bureau of Investigation reports, UNN writes.
Details
In particular, in March 2023, the SBI uncovered an illegal financial transaction with the real estate of a Kharkiv commercial bank that is in liquidation. The value of the real estate in the center of Kharkiv is estimated at UAH 360 million.
The suspects implemented the scheme using the details of a Ukrainian company owned by a Kharkiv bank. Two foreign companies were also used, which have now been sanctioned by the National Security and Defense Council.
Earlier, the SBI investigation found that these companies had links to a well-known Russian bookmaker and other companies and individuals whose actions were detrimental to Ukraine's national interests and national security.
The new owners are foreign companies whose actual beneficial owners are citizens of the aggressor state. The non-resident companies themselves are under sanctions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
The director of one of the branches of the bankrupt bank, a private notary, three representatives of the companies involved in the transaction and the person who “acquired” the bank's property were served with notices of suspicion of embezzlement or aiding and abetting embezzlement of the bank's property in particularly large amounts, forgery of documents and their use, as well as legalization of the proceeds of crime.
The issue of preventive measures against the detainee has not yet been resolved, however, the article provides for imprisonment of up to 12 years for embezzlement on a large scale.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
Recall
The NBU declared Cominvestbank insolvent due to risky activities and unreliable reporting. The bank, which occupied 0.04% of the market, posed a threat to the interests of depositors and creditors.
