MOD official's attempted bribery: investigation completed
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) have completed a pre-trial investigation of the head of a structural unit of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine suspected of an attempt to transfer UAH 24 million in undue benefit to influence the audit conducted by the ministry. His actions fall under Part 3 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
On June 2, 2022, the case file was disclosed for review.
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.
In December 2021, NABU and SAPO notified the official of suspicion.
Other participants in the crime are being established.
* position at the time of committing the crime