UAH 37.7 million may have been embezzled during fortification construction in Sumy region: four people suspected. PHOTO
Four people are suspected of embezzling more than UAH 37.7 million in budget funds during the construction of fortifications in Sumy region. Investigators documented five instances of alleged misappropriation of funds through inflated costs of materials, work, and delivery.
The Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Western Region reported this, according to Censor.NET.
According to the investigation, in 2024, an official from the capital construction department of one of the regional state administrations, a former technical supervision engineer, and the director and beneficial owner of a contracting company entered into a conspiracy.
According to law enforcement, the scheme was carried out during the construction of two strongpoints and three defensive lines.
Inflated costs for materials, the works themselves, and their delivery were entered into the documents relating to the work carried out. On the basis of these documents, budget funds were transferred to the contracting company in amounts exceeding the actual costs.
Investigators allege that the illegally obtained funds were subsequently converted into cash and distributed among the participants in the scheme as "kickbacks."
Law enforcement documented five instances. The total amount allegedly embezzled by the suspects exceeds UAH 37.7 million. Expert examinations confirmed the amount of losses caused to the state.
All four were notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The court imposed preventive measures on the suspects and set bail at UAH 998,400 for each. The prosecutor’s office considers these bail amounts insufficient and is asking the Lviv Court of Appeal to overturn the first-instance court’s decisions and increase them.
