Defense Ministry official suspected of attempted bribery

On Dec. 21, 2021, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) served a notice of suspicion to the head of the structural unit of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. He is charged with asking for UAH 24 million to influence the results of an audit. The actions of the suspect fall under Part 3 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As established, in the spring of 2021, the Deputy Head of the Department of Military Representations – Head of the Military Representations Work Control Unit of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine* promised to provide UAH 16.8 million to the director of the Internal Audit Department of the MOD. The funds originated from a commercial company developing the underground part of a building of one of MOD's central departments into the Unified Security Center. The money came in turn for a positive audit opinion on the compliance, completeness, and quality of the equipment supplied by the company under the contract terms. The MOD official estimated his "mediation services" at UAH 7 million with the total undue benefit reaching some UAH 24 million.

A positive conclusion of the audit would allow the private company to receive full payment under the contract worth more than UAH 400 million. In addition, the company could apply for the conclusion of subsequent contracts within the same project.

*position 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.