The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Prosecutor General's Office has reported suspicions to the head of a private enterprise, who, together with an official of the Pleso utility company, is suspected of embezzling over 1.7 million hryvnias. This is money allocated for environmental protection measures in Kyiv, in particular for the creation of water protection zones on Trukhaniv and Venetsiansky islands.
According to the investigation, in 2021, the Pleso municipal enterprise received budget funds to develop land management projects for water protection zones in the capital. However, instead of actually performing the work, officials, according to law enforcement officers, organized a fictitious "appropriation" of money.
The prosecutor's office reports that the director of the municipal enterprise agreed with the head of the private company on the formal execution of the works. Despite the fact that the tender procedure has not yet been completed, a contract was signed between the Pleso Municipal Enterprise and the private company for the development of land management projects for five objects, including Trukhaniv and Venetian Islands.
On December 23, the parties signed a certificate of completed work, which was not actually carried out. And on December 30, 1.7 million hryvnias of budget funds were transferred to the account of a private company.
The suspects' actions were classified as embezzlement of budget funds in particularly large amounts and official forgery. The Criminal Code provides for strict criminal liability for such crimes.
Prosecutors also obtained in court the cancellation of illegally established water protection zones and coastal protection strips on Trukhaniv and Venetsiansky islands. The Prosecutor General's Office emphasizes that this decision will make it impossible for further development or other illegal use of these territories. The corresponding records have already been removed from the State Land Cadastre.
The investigation into the Pleso municipal official has now been completed, and the materials are being prepared for submission to court. The investigation into the head of the private enterprise is ongoing.
