Kyiv region exposes embezzlement of UAH 10 million on modular shelters: two school directors are suspected
1 September 17:04
Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security in Kyiv region have served notice of suspicion to two directors of educational institutions who, according to the investigation, contributed to the embezzlement of more than UAH 10 million from the local budget during the purchase of modular shelters, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
How the scheme worked
The investigation found that educational institutions entered into contracts for the supply of simple civil defense shelters. The contractor delivered structures that did not meet state building codes and technical specifications. Nevertheless, the directors signed the delivery notes and certificates of completion, which allowed the contractor to receive payment.
In addition, even before the tender was held, officials of the private company prepared tender documents with discriminatory requirements, which were actually “tailored” to a specific participant. These documents were then handed over to customers for publication on the Prozorro public procurement platform, which ensured the victory of the company in question.
What did the examinations show?
Construction, technical and economic expertise confirmed that
- the shelters do not meet safety requirements and cannot effectively protect people;
- no control tests were conducted before installation;
- the conclusions provided were purely theoretical and not based on practical tests.
As a result, more than UAH 10 million of budget funds were unjustifiably transferred.
Legal qualifications
The directors were served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of office that led to grave consequences. They face imprisonment for up to 6 years with a ban on holding certain positions.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The case is being investigated by the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, with the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office providing procedural guidance.
Context
This is not the first case of abuse in the procurement of shelters. Recently, the BES served a notice of suspicion to the organizer and executors of another scheme that misappropriated more than UAH 18 million allocated for the construction of protective structures for educational institutions in Kyiv and Odesa regions.
The problem of the quality of shelters in schools and kindergartens has been repeatedly raised by the public: with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the demand for them has increased tenfold, and corruption risks in public procurement have intensified.
