Six suspects in Ukrzaliznytsia PCR test fraud

On June 10, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) bring charges against six persons who attempted to misappropriate UAH 4.94 million during a purchase of COVID-19 PCR testing services for Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) staff. The actions of the suspects fall under Part 3 Article 15, Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

 

 

 

The suspects are*:

• three Ukrzaliznytsia officials;
• the director and deputy director of a private enterprise;
• a representative of a private company providing medical services.

Three suspects - an official of Ukrzaliznytsia, a representative of a private company, and the director of a private enterprise - were charged in absentia.

According to the investigation, in September-December 2020, Ukrzaliznytsia announced a tender for the purchase of 11,000 COVID-19 PCR tests. Its officials helped a pre-determined company win the tender and agreed to the price one and a half times higher than the market average - UAH 1,280 / test instead of UAH 837 / test.

However, the structural units of Ukrzaliznytsia refused to accept the contract due to the obvious inconsistency of the offered price with the market ones. This eventually prevented the embezzlement of UAH 4.94 million.

Read more about corruption at Ukrzaliznytsia.

* positions at the time of committing the crime

 

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