Based on materials from the ESBU, company executives and the deputy head of the NAS of Ukraine institute will be tried for embezzling more than UAH 5 million in budget funds

 Detectives from the Main Detective Division of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine have completed a pre-trial investigation and sent an indictment to court against the former and current heads of the company and the deputy head of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kharkiv in a case involving the misappropriation of significant amounts of budget funds.

The pre-trial investigation established that the deputy head of the institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, abusing his official position, documented tender and contractual procedures with a predetermined winner for the supply of equipment.

Detectives of the ESBU analyzed the cost of the equipment in Ukraine and found that the winning company had been overpaid by more than UAH 5 million compared to the market value, which led to the embezzlement of budget funds.

As a result of the searches, the Bureau's detectives seized tender documentation, mobile phones, computer equipment, and rough notes confirming the illegal activity. The Bureau's employees informed the former and current heads of the company, as well as the deputy head of the NASU institute, that they were suspected of committing a crime under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement, or acquisition of property through abuse of official position).

The pre-trial investigation has now been completed, and the indictment against the aforementioned individuals has been sent to court. Operational support was provided by employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. Procedural guidance was provided by prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General.