Yuzhnyi seaport officials suspected of embezzling UAH 1.5 million

On Sept. 1, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO), together with the National Police Office of Strategic Investigations in the Odesa region, notified three officials of the state-owned Yuzhnyi sea commercial port of suspicion of embezzling almost UAH 1.5 million. Their actions fall under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The suspects are*:

• the acting director of Yuzhnyi SCP;
• the chief accountant of Yuzhnyi SCP;
• the deputy director of Yuzhnyi SCP.

*positions at the time of committing the crime

As established, from April to August 2020, despite the governmental restrictions on salaries to officials (limited to UAH 47.2 thousand) for the period of quarantine due to COVID-19, the acting director of Yuzhnyi SCP took steps to receive extra wages. His actions, carried out in a preliminary conspiracy with the chief accountant and deputy director of the port, led to almost UAH 1.5 million in losses to the state.

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.