Ukrzaliznytsia PCR test fraud: investigation completed

On Oct. 31, 2022, NABU and SAPO completed the investigation of six participants in a corruption scheme involving the 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*:

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

The investigation of the director of the private enterprise and the person responsible for applying the simplified procurement procedure at one of Ukrzaliznytsia branches will be carried out separately, as both persons are wanted.

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.

In June 2022, NABU and SAPO exposed the scheme and served suspicion notices to six persons. At the end of October, the pool of suspects increased to eight people.

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.