The Security Service of Ukraine exposed the embezzlement scheme of UAH 36 million in spare parts for the Armed Forces

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the suspicion of the former director of the defense plant and his accomplices in the embezzlement of over 36 million hryvnias for the purchase of spare parts for aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the investigation, the scheme consisted in accepting on the company's balance sheet known defective parts supplied by controlled factory companies.

The money paid for these defective parts was transferred to cash by the participants of the scheme and shared among themselves.

The ex-director of the plant (in absentia), his former deputy, six heads of controlled companies and two of their accomplices were suspected. They were charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including:

• ch. 2, 3 Art. 255 (creation, management of a criminal organization and participation in it);
• Part 4 of Art. 28, Part 5 of Art. 191 (appropriation of property in particularly large amounts due to abuse of official position);
• Part 4 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 366 (official forgery of documents);
• Part 4 of Art. 28, Part 3 of Art. 209 (laundering of funds obtained by crime).

Perpetrators face up to 13 years in prison with confiscation of property. The former director of the plant is currently hiding outside of Ukraine.