Kyiv region city mayor suspected of real estate fraud

On Sept. 23, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) notified a Kyiv region city mayor of suspicion of causing more than UAH 8.7 million in damages to the territorial community. Two more participants in the corruption scheme - a real estate owner and an appraiser - were notified of suspicion as well.

The mayor's actions fall under Part 2 Article 364, Part 4. Art. 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, while his accomplice-the owner of an unfinished building is suspected under Part 5 Art. 27, Part 2 Art. 364, Part 4 Art. 27, Part 2 Art. 358, Part 4 Art. 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The appraiser is charged with committing a criminal offense under Part 2 Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Since the building owner's whereabouts is unknown, he was notified of suspicion in absentia.

As established, in 2018, the owner of an unfinished building offered the mayor to purchase it for the needs of the city for UAH 24 million, which significantly exceeded the price offers at that time. The mayor knew this but accepted the offer. To realize the plan, it was necessary to ensure the forgery of the property valuation report and, using his official position, to mislead the specialized commissions of the city council and its deputies so that they would vote for the allocation of funds from the local budget for the purchase of a partially built facility. The examination conducted as part of the NABU and SAPO investigation established an illegal overpayment of more than UAH 8.73 million.

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.