Position: Head of the Border Inspection Department "Sambir" of the Western Interregional Main Directorate of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection.
Sphere of corruption: certification and supervision.
Region of corruption activity: Lviv region.
Qualification: the actions are qualified under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
The plot of the case: in September 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, exposed Mykhailo Krechkivskyi, the head of the Western Interregional Main Directorate of the State Service for the Supervision of Food and Consumer Protection at the border, and his accomplice, Drohobych businessman and broker Mykola Kimak, in systematic bribery. They are suspected of systematic extortion from a seafood importer.
As reported by the territorial department of the State Border Guard of Lviv region, in April 2024, a company registered in the Dnipro cleared a batch of fish and seafood at one of the customs posts in the Lviv region. The company representative was informed that in order to pass customs and sanitary control without hindrance, it is necessary to conclude an agreement with a certain brokerage organization, which will take over the procedure for registration and storage of the goods.
The commercial director of the brokerage company stated that for unhindered customs clearance and verification of the quality of the cargo, the company should pay from 150 to 250 dollars for each batch of goods. The merchant was to provide the funds for transfer to the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection and customs officials. The broker assured that only with such "cooperation" will the company's cargo be cleared as quickly as possible.
According to the investigation, from July to September 2024, the company imported goods six times with a total value of over UAH 6.8 million, and the defendants received almost $1,000 for "services."
On September 16, the broker and the official met with a representative of the importing company and received $400 from him for the smooth customs clearance of another shipment of goods. After handing over the money, both were detained by law enforcement officers.
Law enforcement officers are not disclosing more details of the case. According to ZAXID.NET journalists from their own sources, the head of the border inspection control department "Sambir" of the Western Interregional Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection at the State Border, Mykhailo Krechkivskyi, and Drohobych businessman and broker Mykola Kimak were detained for systematic bribery. The detention took place in Drohobych.
The perpetrators were informed of suspicion of receiving unlawful benefit, committed in a prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to 10 years.
Subsequently, the Drohobych City District Court of Lviv Region sentenced Mykhailo Krechkivskyi, who, while working at the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection, took bribes from a seafood importer for passing state veterinary and sanitary control. The court sentenced him to a fine of UAH 34,000. It is currently unknown whether the convicted person continues to work at the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection.
Individuals potentially involved in corruption schemes: in addition to Krechkivsky, entrepreneur and broker Mykola Kimak is also involved in the scheme.
Assets: in his 2023 declaration, Krechkivskyi indicated that he owns an apartment in Lviv and two land plots.
Krechkivskyi also has a UAZ 3303 car registered to him, while his wife Zoryana owns a Volkswagen.
Krechkivsky's salary for 2023 was UAH 310,986. His wife's income was UAH 62,743.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded in a timely manner to the criminal activities of Krechkivsky and his accomplice.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, Krechkivskyi was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
https://www.lmn.in.ua/na-lvivshchyni-posadovtsia-derzhprodspozhyvsluzhby-oshtrafuvaly-za-khabar/
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/e229a47c-abd1-47d2-ba32-1dd5e9efd2d3