Fake disability in Arma: the expert pointed out the managerial failure of the head of the Duma agency

The scandal with the alleged fake disability of employees of the agency for search and asset management causes reputational losses to this body. The chairman of the ARMA Elena Duma was supposed to suspend subordinates who appear in criminal proceedings for the duration of the investigation, but demonstrates her inaction. this opinion was expressed in an exclusive comment to UNN by Igor Chobitko, a lawyer and former chairman of the public council under the ARMA.

He noted that if the police are already conducting an inspection, then there are some grounds for this.

"At the moment, there is no data yet that it is the guilt that has been established in this criminal proceeding.however, a pre-trial investigation cannot be initiated based on any data that does not indicate the commission of a criminal offense. And since it has been initiated, it means that the investigation probably has certain data that there is such a criminal offense committed by certain persons.  therefore, if it is proved that it was ARMA employees who were involved in the commission of these crimes, then they cannot be civil servants, serve and be part of ARMA employees," Chobitko stressed.

In his opinion, if it is confirmed that Arma officials received a fictitious disability, then the head of the agency Elena Duma should resign.

"But she's unlikely to do it. In addition, it can also suspend these individuals for the duration of the investigation, and the investigation has such an opportunity. But it does not perform such actions, as we can see. This may indicate her inaction in this direction, unwillingness to help the investigation," the expert noted.

He stressed that such scandals harm not only the reputation of the body at the national level, but also the trust of international partners.

This is not just a body that operates within the framework of domestic legislation, it operates on the plane of international relations, including the search for seized assets or those that are subject to arrest. Therefore, this causes reputational losses both at the state level and at the international level. There should be a very balanced approach to the selection of personnel in this agency.the fact that the manager does not make any decisions during the investigation period is inaction. And there is also responsibility for this

In addition, he recalled that the liquidation of the public council under ARMA weakened the possibility of public supervision of the activities of the body that promotes impunity.

context

On October 25, the national police opened criminal proceedings on the facts of official forgery and abuse of office. According to investigators, employees of medical and social expert commissions (MSEC), in order to obtain illegal benefits and abuse their official position, organized the issuance of deliberately forged documents on the presence of disability to ARMA officials. This allows the latter to receive a deferral from serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and pension payments.

Police are currently checking five agency officials. As it became known to UNN from its own sources, among them is the adviser to the chairman of the ARMA Alexander Danilovich.

Thus, ARMA actually took over the "disability marathon" from prosecutors.

The scandal with disabled prosecutors led to the resignation of Andrey Kostin from the post of Prosecutor General. It would seem that the lessons of this scandal should have been a warning to other government agencies. However, the situation in Arma demonstrates that the problem of corruption is far from being overcome.