Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine exposed an illegal scheme to misappropriate public funds in especially large amounts.

The investigation established that officials of the Capital construction department of one of the regional state administrations together with officials of private companies in 2022, during the active phase of the war with the russian aggressor, seized public funds. These individuals documented the purchase of inventory and services (works) from two companies at inflated prices. They also entered into official documents knowingly false information about the cost of wages to employees under contractor agreements.

These actions caused over UAH 2.8 million in losses to the state.

So far the detectives of the ESBU have conducted 11 searches at the residences of the main participants in the criminal scheme and the offices of the companies. As a result of the searches, financial and business documents and draft records confirming the commission of a criminal offense were found and seized. Necessary investigative actions are being taken to establish the full range of persons involved in the crime.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings initiated on the grounds of an offense under Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office, committed in a particularly large scale or by an organized group) is being conducted by detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine with operational support from the Security Service of Ukraine and under the procedural guidance of prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's Office.