The ESBU has completed the investigation into the case of budget fund misappropriation by a deputy of the Odesa City Council and her 6 accomplices

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region concluded a pre-trial investigation into seven individuals belonging to an organized crime group. These individuals are accused of embezzling budget funds designated for a program addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and drug addiction.

The investigation alleges that an Odesa City Council deputy collaborated with six others to orchestrate a scheme that misappropriated UAH 2.2 million in budget funds. This scheme reportedly involved officials from the Communal Non-profit Enterprise (CNE) "Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control" and an employee from the Odesa City Council's Health Department.

Additionally, the scheme included individual entrepreneurs, some of whom were related to the suspect, and the director of a communal enterprise focused on assisting drug-addicted individuals.

Having received UAH 7.5 million in budget funds for the program's implementation, the suspects entered false information into the certificates of completion. They inflated the number of individuals who supposedly received assistance and listed services that were never actually provided.

Specifically, this concerned the catering services for individuals undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, which, according to the documents, were allegedly provided by a relative of the deputy. As a result of these actions, the local budget suffered losses exceeding UAH 2 million. These facts are substantiated by analytical research and an economic expert examination.

To ensure the restitution of damages caused to the local budget, the court has placed seizures on the real estate and vehicles belonging to the suspects.

Based on the collected evidence, seven participants of the criminal scheme were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 27, Part 3 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 366, Part 3 of Art. 209, and Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. These charges include the misappropriation of property in especially large amounts by an organized group through the abuse of official position, money laundering of proceeds from crime, and the forgery of official documents. The indictment has been filed with the court.

Operational support was provided by detectives for the strategic protection of the economy from the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region. Procedural oversight was conducted by prosecutors from the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.