New suspects named in case involving embezzlement of 27 million intended for victims of occupation
Kyiv • UNN
There are now seven suspects in the case involving the misappropriation of 27 million UAH intended for the de-occupied Kyiv region. The funds were embezzled through controlled charitable organizations.
In the case regarding the embezzlement of 27 million UAH allocated for aid to the de-occupied Kyiv region through controlled charitable structures, there are now seven suspects, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Tuesday, UNN writes.
Details
According to the investigation, funds directed by the state after the de-occupation of the Kyiv region in 2022 for the purchase of food, generators, and essential goods for people who survived the Russian occupation were embezzled through controlled charitable and public organizations.
Back in February, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported on the exposure of the first participants in the scheme. At that time, five individuals were served with notices of suspicion for the embezzlement of budget funds on an especially large scale.
"Currently, under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General, two more individuals have been notified of suspicion," the statement reads.
According to the National Police, based on the evidence collected, police investigators in February and May 2024 notified seven members of the criminal group of suspicion for misappropriation, embezzlement, or seizure of property through abuse of office (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment.
Substance of the case
According to the investigation, the organizer of the scheme was a lawyer who recruited acquaintances to work through controlled charitable and public organizations. Some participants sought out individuals to serve as formal heads of such structures, while others ensured the opening of bank accounts, preparation of documents, and submission of reports, the prosecutor's office reported.
The investigation believes that in 2022, these organizations received budget funds from the Ministry of Social Policy allegedly for the purchase and delivery of humanitarian aid to residents of de-occupied communities in the Kyiv region. Subsequently, reports with false information about the delivered aid were submitted to the ministry, although some of the goods were delivered partially or not at all, the prosecutor's office noted.
"At present, at least three episodes of embezzlement of state funds during March-July 2022 have been established. The total amount of damages exceeds 26.9 million UAH," the statement says.
To compensate for the damages, the property of the suspects and their close relatives has been seized upon the motion of prosecutors. The involvement of other individuals is also being verified.
