The Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police of Ukraine have reported suspicions to the head of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant (Poltava GOK), his deputy, and two department heads in a case of legalization of property obtained through criminal means. All of them are accused of prior conspiracy by a group of individuals on a particularly large scale.
According to the investigation, the chairman of the board of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant, together with his deputy and two heads of departments, organized a scheme for illegal mining and processing of minerals. The plant had a license only for the extraction of iron ore, but the suspects mined and processed iron quartzites into crushed stone and other minerals of national importance without the appropriate permits.
To legalize illegal products, officials entered false information about the results of mineral processing into reporting documents. Thus, they managed to legalize more than 885 thousand tons of crushed stone and waste rock for a total amount of 33.5 million hryvnias.
At the moment, the suspects have been placed under preventive measures, and their property has been seized for the purpose of further confiscation. Investigators are also identifying other persons involved in the crime in order to bring them to justice.
This case is not the first for Poltava Mining and Processing Plant. In September 2023, investigators already reported the head of the plant on suspicion of illegal mining worth 157 billion hryvnias, which caused environmental damage.
The investigation is currently ongoing, and law enforcement officers are taking measures to expand the circle of individuals involved in criminal activity at the Poltava Mining and Processing Complex.
