7 persons are suspected of 93 million UAH public funds embezzlement of «Ukrzaliznytsia»

On January 15, 2019, the Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) under the procedural guidance of the prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) gave notices of suspicion to 7 persons. They are suspected of 93.27 million UAH public funds embezzlement of the Public Joint-Stock Company (PJSC) «Ukrzaliznytsia» (Ukrainian railways).

Among suspects there are:

- the Head of the Board - the General Director of the manufacturer of turnouts (Part 5 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- the First Deputy Director General of the manufacturer of turnouts (Part 5 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- the founder - the Director of the fictitious company - the winner of the tender (Part 2 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191, Part 2 Article 27, Part 2 Article 28, Part 1 Article 205, Part 1 Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- the Director of the intermediary company (Part 2 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- three employees of the Branch of the Center for the Provision of Production of the PJSC «Ukrzaliznytsia» (Part 2 Article 27, Part 3 Article 358 and Part 5 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The investigation revealed that during December 2015 - March 2017 the suspects organized the purchase of turntables at overpriced prices with the involvement of controlled intermediary companies for the needs of the PJSC «Ukrzaliznytsia». As a result, the funds of the Branch of the Center for the Provision of Production of the PJSC «Ukrzaliznytsia» in the amount of about 93.28 million UAH were embezzled.

The NABU Detectives based on the own materials started the pre-trial investigation of the abovementioned facts in June 2017.

Three persons (2 officials of the manufacturer company and the Head of the intermediary company) were detained.

Currently the NABU Detectives investigate the involvement of other persons in the committing a crime.

In addition, the NABU Detectives prepared a draft submission for criminal prosecution of the Member of Parliament, who, according to the investigation, acted as an organizer of the corruption scheme.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine a person is considered not-guilty in commission of crime and cannot be a subject to criminal punishment, until he or she is found guilty by the court.