8,000 UAH for "director" role: Odesa woman faces trial over sham company

 An Odesa resident who registered a company in her name using knowingly false information will face trial. Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have completed an investigation into the forgery of documents submitted for the state registration of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.

The investigation established that the woman registered a company in her name specializing in the wholesale trade of metal products. The company's credentials were used to minimize tax burdens. The firm was utilized to convert non-cash funds into cash for enterprises in the real sector of the economy.

After receiving a cash reward of 8,000 UAH, the suspect in the criminal proceedings performed no functions at the enterprise. All documents were drawn up and signed by other individuals, whose cases are being investigated in separate criminal proceedings.

The woman was served a notice of suspicion for committing a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 205-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (forgery of documents submitted for the state registration of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs). The indictment has been forwarded to the court.

The sanction of the article provides for a punishment in the form of a fine from eight thousand to ten thousand tax-free minimum incomes of citizens or imprisonment for a term of three to five years, with or without deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to three years.

Procedural guidance is provided by prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

It should be noted that according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.