NABU, SAPO uncover UAH 129 mln embezzlement scheme in critical infrastructure restoration (PHOTOS)
NABU and SAPO have exposed four persons who, under martial law, formed an organized criminal group and misappropriated over UAH 129 million allocated for restoring critical infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovs'k region.
According to the investigation, in 2022-2023, group members arranged for a controlled company to sign a contract with a municipal enterprise to reconstruct a water pipeline in the Kamianske district. The company's beneficial owner was a prominent local businessman with significant influence over the enterprise's director. Moreover, he was wanted by the FBI for property crimes.
The contract involved the procurement of pipe products, which the tender “winner” purchased from the manufacturer at market value through his own shell company and resold to the utility company at more than triple the original price.
As a result, the enterprise suffered losses worth over UAH 129 million, which the perpetrators embezzled and used at their discretion.
The actions of the suspects fall under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The group's organizer have been detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
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.
