Corruption scheme on Hoverla: SBI completes investigation against officials
4 June 2024 15:52
Law enforcement officials have completed a pre-trial investigation into the deputy director of the Carpathian National Nature Park and a cashier who organised a scheme to illegally enrich themselves by selling tickets to climb Hoverla. This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to the investigation, the official employed his friend as a cashier to sell tickets on the tourist route when climbing Hoverla. This man did not issue some tickets to tourist groups and individual tourists. Every day, he reported to the manager on the amount of unaccounted cash collected and took it to the deputy director’s office. They divided the money among themselves.
The daily revenue of the offenders was at least 30 thousand hryvnias. They received the largest profits from late August to early September, when many groups climbed Hoverla on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine. During this period, they earned 50-60 thousand hryvnias a day. The illegal scheme operated from June to October 2023.
It was established that the officials embezzled at least UAH 617 thousand in this way.
The deputy director and the cashier are accused of misappropriation of property by abuse of office committed by a group of persons (Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
This article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to eight years.
The deputy director was suspended from his duties and the cashier was dismissed. The court imposed house arrest as a measure of restraint on both defendants. A civil lawsuit has also been filed against the defendants to compensate for the damage caused.
