The police in Zaporizhia have uncovered a large-scale scheme to embezzle charitable funds allocated by an international organization for the implementation of children's programs. According to the investigation, a group of individuals created a network of fictitious entrepreneurs through whom they conducted illegal financial transactions. Based on the collected evidence, three suspects were notified of suspicions.
As reported by the National Police, the organizer of the scheme was a 28-year-old resident of a neighboring region. He involved two acquaintances in the illegal activity. They searched for people in Zaporizhzhia for whom they registered individual entrepreneurs without the intention of carrying out real economic activities. They conducted financial transactions through these shell companies.
The participants in the scheme approached an international humanitarian organization with the stated purpose of implementing programs for children. They received over 17 million hryvnias ostensibly for the purchase of equipment, stationery, and event organization. In reality, no services were provided and no goods were purchased.
The funds received were transferred to the accounts of newly created individual entrepreneurs in installments of 200 thousand hryvnias, after which the cash was withdrawn and distributed among the participants. According to police, such actions led to the embezzlement of at least one million hryvnias of charitable funds, which were later legalized.
To prevent further withdrawal of money, law enforcement officers secured the seizure of the public organization's bank accounts, which contained 10.3 million hryvnias. In the future, the management of the seized assets will be carried out with the participation of ARMA.
On November 25, police conducted 11 searches at the residences of the suspects and in the premises used for their activities. Financial documentation, equipment, as well as significant amounts of cash — over 465,000 hryvnias, 15,700 dollars, and 900 euros — were seized.
Investigators, under the procedural guidance of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office, reported suspicions to:
— the organizer — under Part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
— the director of the public organization — under Part 3 of Article 15 and Part 3 of Article 201-2;
— the entrepreneur — under Part 3 of Article 201-2 and Part 1 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The issue of choosing preventive measures is being resolved. The pre-trial investigation continues.
