In Kryvyi Rih, law enforcement officers have uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme organized by city council officials. According to investigators, members of the criminal organization embezzled almost 7 million hryvnias allocated from the budget for the maintenance of cemeteries, the transportation of bodies of fallen servicemen, and the repair of city squares.
As reported by the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, the criminal scheme was organized by the head of one of the municipal enterprises of the Kryvyi Rih City Council. He involved heads of executive committee departments, employees of the municipal enterprise, directors of contracting companies, entrepreneurs, and an accountant in the embezzlement.
During 2023–2024, these individuals conducted formal tenders, concluded contracts with firms associated with the scheme, and then entered false data on the scope of work into the reports. The cost of services and materials was systematically overstated.
The funds transferred from the local budget to the accounts of shell companies were later distributed among the participants in the scheme.
During 80 searches, over 1 million hryvnias, 68 thousand US dollars, 28 thousand euros, mobile phones, bank cards, computer equipment, draft notes and documentation were seized from the suspects. Among the items found were cars that could have been used to transport cash and documentation.
Currently, 9 people have been detained. Three of them have already been remanded in custody without bail. The issue of remand is being resolved for the remaining ones.
The investigation is ongoing, and the amount of damage caused may increase - it is possible that similar schemes operated in other areas of the utility company's activities.
