Officials uncover UAH 2.1 million fraud in National Guard timber procurement
Law enforcement officers reported suspicions to the head of the housing and operational service of the rear of one of the military units of the National Guard of Ukraine and two entrepreneurs who are suspected of embezzling over UAH 2.1 million of budget funds during the purchase of firewood at inflated prices.
Under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the field of defense of the Eastern Region, suspicion was reported to the head of the housing and operational service of the rear of one of the military units of the National Guard of Ukraine and two individual entrepreneurs under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 191 and Part 5 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
According to the investigation, the head of the housing and operational service of the rear and two individual entrepreneurs, acting in a prior conspiracy with other persons, seized budget funds during the purchase of firewood for the needs of the military unit. As a result of the purchase of wood at inflated prices, the state suffered losses in the amount of more than 2.1 million UAH.
To create the appearance of a competitive procedure, artificially coordinated price offers from related business entities were used. The head of the housing and maintenance service prepared documents for defense procurement without using the electronic procurement system, attaching fictitious price monitoring materials to them, on the basis of which the controlled entrepreneur was determined as the winner.
Subsequently, two contracts were concluded for the purchase of firewood for a total amount of UAH 5,720,577.
According to the experts' conclusions, the market value of the purchased timber was significantly lower, resulting in losses to the state totaling UAH 2,125,351. The received budget funds were transferred into cash through the account of one of the individual entrepreneurs.
During searches of the suspects' residences, cars, and office premises, mobile phones, electronic media, financial and business documentation, as well as documents regarding the activities of business entities, including those with signs of fictitiousness, were seized.
The actions of the head of the housing and maintenance service are qualified under Part 4 of Article 191 and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The actions of individual entrepreneurs are qualified under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 191 and Part 5 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
At the prosecutor's request, the court chose a preventive measure for the suspects in the form of detention with the alternative of posting bail in the amount of UAH 998,000 for each.
A pre-trial investigation is currently underway. The involvement of other individuals in the commission of criminal offenses is being verified.
We previously reported that in Cherkasy region, suspicions were raised against a serviceman of the State Border Guard Service and his accomplice , who, according to the investigation, organized desertion by bribing the commander.
Also in Odessa, a 54-year-old woman is suspected of extorting five thousand dollars for the exclusion of a conscript from the wanted list of the territorial centre of procurement and social support (TCP and SS) and employment in a military unit without being sent to combat areas.
