100,000 euros for a combat drone contract: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry uncovers a high-profile corruption scheme
9 July 10:56
The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to the investigation, an advisor to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with her son, extorted 100,000 euros from a defense contractor that manufactures unmanned systems for the Armed Forces.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Security Service of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
What were they demanding 100,000 euros for?
According to the investigation, the defense contractor was fulfilling a government contract to manufacture and supply combat drones.
Following a massive fire at the company’s warehouses—caused by a Russian airstrike—part of the finished product was destroyed. To legally resolve the further fulfillment of the government contract and avoid penalties, the company turned to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for an official opinion on a material change in circumstances.
However, according to the investigation, the CCI’s legal advisor began artificially delaying the review of the documents and demanded 100,000 euros in exchange for issuing a favorable opinion.
Her son was drawn into the scheme
As law enforcement officials established, the official enlisted her own son to carry out the scheme.
He acted as an intermediary between company representatives and the official, arranged meetings, and received the funds.
According to the investigation, company representatives were warned that serious problems could arise if they refused to pay the bribe.
In particular, they were told that documents might “disappear” from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s archives or that the legality of the signatures on the issued opinions might be questioned during future inspections.
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Law enforcement officials documented the transfer of the bribe
SBU officers and prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General documented the transfer of the entire amount of the bribe.
The funds were transferred in two installments:
- the first tranche—50,000 euros;
- the second installment—another 50,000 euros.
After receiving the second installment of the bribe on July 7, law enforcement officers detained an advisor to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her son in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
During searches of the suspects’ homes and workplaces, documents and other evidence confirming their involvement in the crime were seized.
What penalties do the suspects face?
The suspects have been notified that they are suspected of aiding and abetting a public official of a private-law legal entity in obtaining an unlawful benefit, committed by a group of individuals acting in prior conspiracy and combined with extortion.
The court has already ordered that they be held in pretrial detention.
At the same time, alternative bail amounts have been set:
- for the advisor to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry—10 million hryvnias;
- for her son—5 million hryvnias.
The investigation is ongoing
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) emphasizes that the exposure of this scheme is part of a systematic effort to prevent corruption in the execution of state defense contracts.
A pre-trial investigation is currently underway. Law enforcement officials are identifying all individuals who may be involved in the illegal scheme and are also investigating other possible instances of unlawful activity.
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