Mykolaiv City Council officials notified of suspicion in budget embezzlement case

On Aug. 11, 2021 NABU and SAPO served a notice of suspicion to the Mykolaiv Deputy Mayor who was detained the day before on UAH 26.8 million embezzlement charges. Besides, yesterday evening, suspicion notices were served to the First Deputy Director of a Mykolaiv City Council department and two heads of private companies (one of them being a deputy of the Odesa City Council) allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.

Their actions fall under Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. So far, the total number of suspects in the corruption scheme makes eight persons.

As previously reported, the First Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv was detained at the Luzhanka-Beregshuran international checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. NABU Detectives believe the official was trying to flee the country.

As established, in 2019, the Mykolaiv City Council announced a tender for the reconstruction of Soborna Square. The Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv and the First Deputy Director 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.