UAH 26 million in losses: ex-heads of SBU economic unit exposed on fuel fraud
Kyiv • UNN
According to the investigation, the former head of the SBU Economic Support Department and his first deputy organized the purchase of fuel and lubricants at artificially inflated prices through a number of controlled companies. As a result, they caused over UAH 26 million in losses.
Ex-heads of the SBU's economic unit have been exposed for fuel fraud that caused more than UAH 26 million in losses. UNN reports with reference to the SBU.
The SBU Main Directorate of Internal Security and investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the NABU and the Prosecutor General's Office, exposed a scheme to embezzle funds allocated for the purchase of fuel for the needs of the special service in 2022. The scheme involved the former head of the Department of Economic Support and his first deputy. Both were previously dismissed from their positions at the initiative of the SBU Head Vasyl Malyuk
It is reported that during the pre-trial investigation and lengthy examinations, it was established that the defendants organized the purchase of fuel and lubricants for SBU cars and armored vehicles at artificially high prices.
"For this purpose, the former officials engaged several controlled commercial entities from Kyiv that trade in oil products. To implement the fraud, they entered false information into financial and economic and reporting documentation. In this way, the SBU units suffered over UAH 26 million in losses," the SBU informs.
During the searches of the suspects' residences, the SBU found more than UAH 11 million in the equivalent.
In addition, unregistered weapons were seized at the residences and offices of the heads of affiliated companies.
"Among the items found were combat grenades, submachine guns, a hand grenade launcher, a combat pistol and more than half a thousand rounds of ammunition for firearms," the statement said.
Based on the collected materials, SBU investigators served the former officials suspicion notices under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 5 of Art. 191 (embezzlement of other people's property by abuse of office by an official, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, under martial law, in particularly large amounts);
- Part 1 of Article 114-1 (obstructing the lawful activities of other military formations - the Security Service of Ukraine during a special period).
The issue of choosing a measure of restraint is currently being decided.
