Suspect in UAH 4.8 million transformers procurement scheme extradited from Bulgaria (PHOTO)
A member of an organized group involved in embezzling funds from Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) during the procurement of power transformers between 2022 and 2024 has been extradited to Ukraine. The suspect, the head of a company that unlawfully won a tender to supply transformers to Ukrzaliznytsia at an artificially inflated price, has been remanded in custody with the option of bail set at UAH 9.9 million.
Since the scheme was uncovered in April 2024, the suspect has been on an international wanted list.
With the assistance of the competent authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria, the suspect was detained in the fall of 2024, and Ukraine's extradition request was subsequently approved. The handover to officers of the National Bureau took place at the international border checkpoint "Ustyluh-Zosin" in the Volyn region.
The extradition was made possible through collaboration with Bulgarian and Polish authorities and effective cooperation with Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General, acting as the central body for suspect extraditions.
As reported, in April 2024, NABU and SAPO uncovered an organized group led by a former advisor to the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and an active employee of the Security Service of Ukraine. Ten individuals were charged with embezzling UAH 94.8 million from PJSC "Ukrzaliznytsia."
At the request of detectives and prosecutors, the court froze UAH 54 million in the supplier company’s bank accounts and seized movable and immovable property belonging to the suspects.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered not-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.
