Case as of causing damage to the SE «Ukrcosmos»: the pre-trial investigation is completed

On February 13, 2019, the Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) completed the pre-trial investigation of the case as of the facts of causing 8.245 million USD damage to the State Enterprise (SE) «Ukrcosmos». The defence and the suspects had been granted with access to the documents of the pre-trial investigation.

Among the suspects there are ex-Director of the SE «Ukrcosmos» (suspected of committing a crime under Part 2 Article 364 - Abuse of authority or office) and a former External Advisor of the General of the State Space Agency of Ukraine (Part 3 Article 27, Part 2 Article 364, Part 5 Article 191, Part 3 Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The investigation revealed that in 2011-2017 the suspects organized a scheme that resulted in withdrawal and legalization of 8.245 million USD. The funds were provided within the credit of the Canada's export credit agency (total amount exceeds 292 million USD) and intended for the construction of a carrier rocket at the facilities of the SE «VO Yuzhmash».

Because of such actions, the launch of the first Ukrainian satellite «Lybid» was disrupted as one of the components of the construction of the Ukrainian National Satellite Communications System.

Instead, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must pay a loan granted to the State Enterprise. Currently, the government expenditures already amount to about 6 billion UAH.

Infographic in HQ: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nab_ukr/45598521555/

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine a person is considered not-guilty in commission of crime and cannot be a subject to criminal punishment, until he or she is found guilty by the court.