NABU and SAPO have uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme involving a former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He is suspected of embezzlement of budget funds, bribery, and fraud in the procurement of equipment.
According to NABU, the corruption scheme operated during 2018-2019 . The entrepreneur who supplied equipment for video surveillance and access control to the Ministry of Internal Affairs buildings significantly overestimated its cost. Despite this, in 2020 the state institution purchased this equipment, which caused losses to the state budget of more than 16 million hryvnias .
During the same period, through the entrepreneur's public organization, the high-ranking official received four premium cars with a total value of over 6 million hryvnias . After his dismissal, the cars remained in his ownership - they were transferred through formal gift agreements.
According to NABU, such actions contain signs of abuse of power and obtaining illegal benefits in particularly large amounts . Investigative actions are currently underway to establish all the circumstances and persons involved in the scheme.
This case once again highlights the problem of corruption in Ukrainian state bodies. If convicted, the former official faces a long prison term and confiscation of illegally obtained property.
