NABU uncovers embezzlement of UAH 27 million by Mykolaiv City Council officials

 

On Aug. 10, 2021, NABU and SAPO exposed a corruption scheme used by local officials to embezzle more than UAH 26,8 million from the city budget during the reconstruction of Soborna Square in Mykolaiv.

 

As established, there are eight participants in the scheme:

• Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv;
• First Deputy Director of a Mykolaiv City Council department;
• heads of six private companies, one of them being an incumbent deputy of the Odesa City Council.

The said officials and two heads of private companies have been detained pursuant to Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. They will soon be served with notices of suspicion. The other persons have already been notified of suspicion.

All eight participants in the scheme are charged with committing a crime under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property).

As the Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv was detained at the Luzhanka-Beregshuran international checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, the investigation reasons that he was trying to flee the country.

The Mayor of Mykolaiv has been summoned to NABU.

As established, in 2019, the Mykolaiv City Council announced a tender for the reconstruction of the city's Soborna Square. The Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv and the First Deputy of one of the City Council departments, abusing their authority, under a preliminary conspiracy with six persons - directors of private companies - secured a victory in the tender of a predetermined company which eventually performed all works. However, according to an expert report, the works were carried out at inflated prices, while the local budget paid an extra UAH 26.8 million.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Other circumstances of the crime are being established.

 

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.