Regional council deputy caught misappropriating UAH 100,000 in financial aid

On Sept. 12, 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) uncovered a conspiracy involving a deputy of the Poltava Regional Council and two accomplices aimed at misappropriating UAH 100,000. These funds were intended for use as financial support to citizens in need of medical treatment. 

The suspects are:

• a Deputy of the Poltava Regional Council – Part 4 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• a consultant at the Department for Ensuring the Work of the Poltava Regional Council leadership – Part 5 Article 27 and Part 4 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• a close relative of the deputy of the Poltava Regional Council – Part 5 Article 27 and Part 4 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation has revealed that in December 2022, a deputy of the Poltava Regional Council, aware of the availability of UAH 200,000 in funds allocated from the regional budget for use as financial aid and the urgent need to spend the money due to the end of the year, decided to misappropriate a part of it. Importantly, such funds were supposed to be given only to those with health problems or in dire straits.

To carry out this criminal plan, the official involved an employee of the Poltava Regional Council who helped him with "advice" on potential recipients of such aid within his close circle and assisted with the necessary documentation. As a result, a close relative of the deputy received UAH 100,000 in aid by submitting a forged medical record indicating her illness.

After a while, the amount that had come to the relative's account was frozen.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.