Half a million hryvnias on paper: non-existent food deliveries to educational institutions were documented in Mykolaiv region
All circumstances and consequences are detailed in the official statement
The head of the department of education, youth and sports of one of the territorial communities of the Bashtanskyi district and a representative of an individual entrepreneur planned a scheme to embezzle budget funds during the purchase of foodstuffs for educational institutions, although the specified products were not actually delivered. Their actions caused significant damage to the state budget. They face up to eight years of imprisonment for the committed acts.
The unlawful activities of the perpetrators were exposed by investigators of Police Unit No. 1 of the Bashtanskyi District Police Department with operational support from officers of the Bashtanskyi District Department of the Security Service of Ukraine and procedural supervision by the Kazankivskyi department of the Bashtanska District Prosecutor’s Office.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers established that between May and December 2022 a number of contracts were concluded between the department of education and the enterprise for the supply of products to preschool and secondary education institutions. Due to martial law, at that time the institutions operated remotely, and the work of kindergartens was suspended, meaning that children’s meals were not provided.
To document the non-existent deliveries, a 44-year-old local resident who represented the interests of the individual entrepreneur, using his details and stamp, prepared and signed documents about allegedly delivered products without actual deliveries.
Subsequently, the head of the department of education, knowing that meals were not actually provided, executed contracts, signed documents about the alleged receipt of products, after which funds were transferred to the enterprise.
Thus, more than 500 thousand hryvnias of budget funds were unjustifiably transferred from the department of education’s account.
Investigators notified the official of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – misappropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure thereof by abuse of official position, committed on a large scale under martial law; and under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, for an official’s drawing up of knowingly false official documents that caused grave consequences, committed by prior conspiracy of a group of persons.
The 44-year-old suspect was charged under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – misappropriation, embezzlement of budget funds; and under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – for aiding in the preparation by an official of knowingly false official documents that caused grave consequences, committed by prior conspiracy of a group of persons.
For the criminal offenses committed, the suspects face up to eight years of imprisonment with disqualification from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
Note: in accordance with Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person shall be considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court’s conviction.
Source: Mykolaiv Oblast Police.
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