29 million for software: NABU and SAPO suspect top officials of embezzlement in IT procurement
4 September 22:16
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) have served five suspects with a notice of suspicion in a large-scale corruption scheme in public IT procurement. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the official website of the NABU.
These are officials of the Ministry of Social Policy, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP), the Pension Fund, and businessmen who conspired to cause more than UAH 29 million in losses to the state budget.
According to the investigation, the following persons were involved in the implementation of the scheme in 2020-2021
- former Deputy Minister of Social Policy
- head of the Department of the Ministry of Social Policy;
- former deputy head of the State Special Communications Service;
- the owner of the group of companies that organized the fraud;
- his subordinate, who used to head the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
According to the NABU, this group of officials and businessmen manipulated public procurement procedures to siphon off budget funds through controlled companies.
The corruption scheme had several stages:
1. Blocking an existing project. The suspects deliberately stopped the implementation of the state informatization project, on which more than $950 thousand had already been spent. In fact, this allowed them to “free up space” for new procurement.
2. Controlled tender. The defendants in the case organized a tender with discriminatory conditions that did not allow other players to participate. To create the illusion of competition, they involved another related entity, which later “lost”.
3. Overpricing. The contract was awarded to the right company, which delivered the software at a deliberately inflated price. This caused the state direct losses of more than UAH 29 million.
The actions of the defendants in the case were classified under Part 2 of Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or position, which caused grave consequences. The issue of choosing a preventive measure is currently being decided.
It is worth noting that some of the suspects, including the organizer of the scheme and the former deputy head of the State Special Communications Service, are already accused in another case related to the embezzlement of more than UAH 62 million in IT procurement for the State Special Communications Service. This case is currently being considered by the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).
This case highlights several structural problems in public IT procurement:
- Manipulation of procedures. The use of formally legal but discriminatory tender conditions allows millions to be withdrawn without competition.
- Repeatability of schemes. The second episode involving the same persons is a sign of systemic rather than isolated violations.
- Lack of control at the ministerial level. Blocking realistic initiatives in favor of “tame” companies indicates a deep corruption penetration of the system.
The NABU and the SAPO emphasize that exposing such schemes is a priority given the limited resources of the state. Budgetary losses amid the war and the critical need for digital reforms increase the public resonance of such cases.
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If the case goes to trial, it will signal the seriousness of the state’s intentions to protect its digital projects from corrupt officials and related business groups.
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