Law enforcement officers have reported suspicions to five individuals who, according to investigators, organized a corruption scheme to embezzle almost 14 million hryvnias during the purchase of shelters for schools in the Kyiv region. Among those involved are the director of a concrete production company and officials who ensured that the company won tenders.
As reported by the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, the organizer and one of the perpetrators had previously been suspected in this case. Now, law enforcement officers have identified five more participants in the transaction.
Primitive storage facilities — for millions of budget funds
The essence of the scheme was the purchase of quickly constructed protective structures, which, as it turned out, did not meet even basic safety requirements. Experts found that the shelters were built from low-grade concrete, without proper reinforcement. Despite this, local officials approved the purchase and signed documents, fully aware of the actual technical condition of the products.
Violations also concerned the regulatory framework: the tender documentation indicated outdated requirements that had already been canceled at the time the contracts were concluded. To legalize such violations, the participants in the scheme entered knowingly false data into official documents.
Child safety theft
The investigation was conducted by operatives of the State Security Service and detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security. According to the conclusions, no control tests were conducted before the supply of shelters - the conclusions about the alleged "protective properties" were based solely on theoretical calculations. That is, without inspection, the structures were transferred to educational facilities as completely ready.
At the same time, the company's management and the employees involved continued to draw up acceptance and transfer certificates, ensuring the further transfer of budget funds to the company's accounts.
What threatens the defendants?
The suspects are charged with several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine at once - Part 5 of Article 191 (embezzlement, embezzlement of property in especially large amounts), as well as Part 5 of Article 27 (complicity in a crime). The maximum penalty is up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The issue of choosing a preventive measure for each of the suspects is currently being resolved. Law enforcement officials emphasize that the investigation is ongoing, and the circle of those involved may expand.
