Ex-deputy minister suspected of embezzling over UAH 32 million
NABU and SAPO notified Yanukovych era ex-deputy minister of ecology and natural resources and two foreign citizens of suspicion of embezzling UAH 32.048 million during the purchase of earth remote sensing services. The actions of the suspects fall under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
As established, in 2011, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced a predetermined Austrian company as the winner of the tender for the development and implementation of environmental monitoring software. The ministry concluded a contract worth UAH 41.15 million. However, the winner was not able and did not plan to do the job. Instead, the advisers of the then minister of ecology and natural resources helped attract several contractors who became the real executors of the tender. They received some 20 percent of the tender cost. The rest of the funds (UAH 32.048 million) were transferred to the accounts of other non-resident companies as if for the software, which in reality was never developed and supplied.
Since the ex-minister's whereabouts have not been established, he was notified of suspicion in absentia. The rest of the suspicion notices were sent to the countries of suspects' registration.
NABU and SAPO take all necessary measures to prosecute other participants in the corruption scheme.
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.