The police are investigating a criminal case regarding fake higher education diplomas, which were allegedly used by former deputy mayor of Odessa Dmytro Zheman, currently the head of the local branch of the Batkivshchyna party. This is reported by journalists of the 368.media publication.
As it became known from the investigation materials, Zheman submitted two diplomas to the City Council's personnel department at once: the first - a master's degree, issued by the National University "Odesa Law Academy", the second - a retraining diploma, issued by the Odessa National Economic University. Both documents raised doubts among law enforcement officers.
The police were particularly interested in a specialist's diploma, allegedly issued by the National Transport University in 2001. It was this diploma that became the basis for Zheman's further education and obtaining a new educational level. However, as the investigation established, Zheman did not officially study at this university, and his name is not in the diploma issuance journal. Moreover, a personal file in his name is also not kept at NTU.
Another detail that indicates falsification: the diploma was signed by the rector M.F. Dmytrichenko, who did not hold this position at the time the document was issued.
Despite numerous inconsistencies, it was this document that opened the door for Zheman to study at the special faculty of retraining of personnel at ONEU, after which he received another diploma, this time official, but again based on a probably fake one.
At present, Dmytro Zhemana has not yet been charged, but the proceedings under Part 3 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms) are ongoing. The investigation is considering the possibility that the official's career could have been built on the systematic use of forged documents.
Let us remind you that Dmytro Zheman is the former director of the Municipal Enterprise "Miskzelentrest" and former deputy mayor of Odessa Gennady Trukhanov, and is also known for his political activity in the ranks of "Batkivshchyna".
If the fact of falsification is proven, it may not only be a matter of personnel fraud, but also of liability for illegally occupying positions in local government bodies.
