Ex-director of Ukrmedproektbud avoids jail for embezzling UAH 30 million at Okhmatdyt construction site
30 January 17:01
The Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has decided to release former director of the state-owned Ukrmedproektbud Iryna Koval from criminal liability, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing Slovo i Dilo.
This happened due to the expiration of the statute of limitations on her case – the court closed the criminal proceedings against her. The court’s press service reported the decision, but did not specify the specific name of the accused. At the same time, the sources of the Slovo i Dilo publication indicate that it is Iryna Koval.
Earlier, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) issued a verdict according to which Iryna Koval was sentenced to 5 years in prison, and Ihor Kuchma, the former director of Ukrprofmed LLC, was sentenced to 4 years. However, on December 26, 2023, the HACC Appeals Chamber overturned this verdict and acquitted the defendants, which led to cassation appeals from the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Oleksandr Klymenko. The Supreme Court upheld some of these appeals, ordering a second appeal hearing.
Iryna Koval’s defense counsel filed a motion to release her from criminal liability due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, which was granted by the judges. The court stated that the decision was made on the basis of paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Article 49 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Thus, the criminal proceedings against Koval were closed in accordance with Article 284(2)(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. In addition, the civil suit against the accused was left without consideration.
At the same time, Ihor Kuchma refused to file a motion for his release from criminal liability and insisted that the case be heard before the final verdict.
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The case of Irina Koval
Iryna Koval is accused of causing UAH 30 million in damages during the construction of Okhmatdyt. According to the investigation, she abused her position as director of Ukrmedproektbud in 2013.
According to the investigation, Ukrmedproektbud, the state-owned enterprise that was the customer for the construction of the Ohmatdyt National Children’s Hospital, ordered Ukrprofmed to supply equipment for the hospital. For this purpose, the company paid more than UAH 30 million in advance. However, despite the fact that the money was transferred, the promised equipment was never delivered.
The prosecution believes that Koval and her partners deliberately made false documents and entered false information, which allowed them to receive more than UAH 30 million for equipment that was never delivered. Koval is also accused of forgery in office, which is a serious criminal offense.
Along with Koval, the former director of Ukrprofmed, Ihor Kuchma, was put in the dock. He is accused of aiding Koval in this abuse.
Koval did not spend a single day in jail. The court awarded her UAH 315,000 bail, which she successfully paid.
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