Former director of LLC “Gas Transportation System Operator of Ukraine” Serhiy Makogon has been reported in absentia on suspicion of failure to pay over 18 billion hryvnias to the state budget and organizing an escape abroad using forged documents. This was reported by the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.
According to the prosecutor's office, the suspicion concerns two criminal offenses - official negligence and forgery of documents. The pre-trial investigation established that Serhiy Makogon, as the General Director of LLC "OGTS of Ukraine", did not fulfill the terms of the employment contract, did not make a decision on the distribution of the company's net profit and the payment of dividends for 2021. This led to the fact that more than 18 billion UAH did not reach the state budget.
In addition, according to the investigation, in August 2022, Makogon organized a business trip to Vienna, allegedly at the invitation of representatives of the Austrian gas transportation system operator. However, this invitation was forged, and the business trip became only a cover for the suspect to flee abroad, where he remained without returning to Ukraine. As stated in the release, Makogon was aware that his powers as the head of the company were ending, and from that time on he would lose the opportunity to travel abroad under the guise of business trips.
According to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, Makogon is charged with violations under articles relating to official negligence (Part 2, Article 367) and entering false information into official documents (Part 1, Article 366). The Prosecutor's Office continues the pre-trial investigation of this case.
This case highlights the problems in controlling financial flows in state-owned enterprises, as well as the importance of complying with the requirements of the legislation on the management of state resources. Given that Serhiy Makogon is currently abroad, the prosecutor's office intends to initiate the procedure for his extradition for investigation and further prosecution.
