The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) revealed a large-scale embezzlement scheme of the National Energy Company "Ukrenergo". According to preliminary data, the former deputy chairman of the Kharkiv Regional Council, who was a deputy of the regional council at the time of the offense, was involved in the criminal activity. The suspect is currently hiding abroad.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
According to the case file, in April 2022, together with accomplices, he organized a scheme to steal electricity from Ukrenergo for UAH 58.44 million.
The deputy involved 2 accomplices in the illegal activity: the founder and director of a private company in Kyiv that trades energy carriers.
Together, they created three fictitious companies through which they received electricity from the United Energy System of Ukraine and sold it to end consumers.
None of these companies paid Ukrenergo for the electricity they received.
At the same time, the participants took the profits received from consumers into the shadows, under the guise of paying debts to affiliated companies.
Then these "funds paid as debt" were transferred to the accounts of another company registered in the Balkans.
According to the conclusions of the commission's judicial economic examination, as a result of these actions, PJSC NEC Ukrenergo suffered losses in the amount of UAH 58.44 million.
During the complex measures, the law enforcement officers searched the director of the capital company in Kyiv and informed him of the suspicion, the other two participants of the arrangement were informed of the suspicion in absentia.
In particular, the ex-deputy and the founder of the company, who are hiding abroad, are suspected under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (according to the crimes committed):
◾️ tsp. 3, 5 Art. 27 hours 5th century 191 (organization and assistance in misappropriation, waste of property or possession of it by abuse of official position, committed in particularly large amounts by an organized group);
◾️ h. 3 Art. 27, ch. 3 Art. 209 (legalization (laundering) of property obtained by crime).
The actions of the detained director of a private company are qualified under Part 5th century 191, ch. 3 Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of selecting a preventive measure for him is being resolved.
An investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all participants of the arrangement. Perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
