NABU exposes equipment procurement fraud at Dovzhenko Film Studios

On Sept. 30, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) notified the former chief engineer of the National Film Studio named after О. Dovzhenko (DFS) and the ex-general director of a private company of suspicion of embezzlement of over UAH 4.4 million. The actions of both persons fall under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As established, in November 2018, the DFS announced an open tender for the purchase of television and audio-visual equipment. However, before that, the general director of a company had agreed with the enterprise's chief engineer about "cooperation", which led to the company's victory in the bidding. Further on a contract was concluded, which did not provide for sanctions for violation of the equipment delivery terms.

Under the bidding terms, the film studio equipment was supposed to be delivered by the end of 2018. This did not happen, but the chief engineer insisted it did, and the DFS paid the money. The actual delivery took place only in April 2019 and not in full. The cost of undelivered and paid-for equipment made over UAH 4.4 million.

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.