Corruption at Kharkiv region tax office: scheme curator exposed
NABU and SAPO have exposed a key figure in a scheme involving the receipt of bribes by tax officials in Kharkiv.
According to the investigation, in the winter of this year, the head of the department of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in the Kharkiv region incited a representative of a private company to provide USD 55,000 for excluding his company from the list of taxpayers meeting risk criteria.
The money was also intended for the then head of the Kharkiv tax office, who was to ensure the final decision.
NABU and SAPO gathered sufficient evidence of the former official's involvement in the crime and notified him of suspicion under Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The head of the department was notified of suspicion in February. The investigation against her concluded with a guilty verdict.
In May, the head of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in the Kharkiv region (Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), a department employee, and an entrepreneur (Part 5 Article 27, Part 3 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) were also notified of suspicion.
The investigation is taking steps to determine the involvement of other officials from the State Tax Service and individuals.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered not-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.