Over 2,500 tons of grain: how the harvest from state-owned agricultural enterprises disappeared
5 February 18:12
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), with the participation of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), announced the exposure of a large-scale scheme to misappropriate the harvest of state-owned agricultural enterprises that are part of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Investigators believe the scheme was organized by a sitting member of parliament and a member of the Kyiv Regional Council. The total losses to the state are estimated at nearly 30 million hryvnia.
According to anti-corruption agencies, in 2021–2022, a scheme for the illegal harvesting and removal of sunflower and corn crops was carried out at state research farms and stations of the NAAS.
The investigation claims that instead of being sent to state grain elevators, the agricultural products were shipped to private grain warehouses in the Chernihiv and Poltava regions. The actual volumes of the harvested crops were not fully or partially reflected in the shipping documents.
Who is suspected
According to law enforcement, the organizers of the scheme were:
- a member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the 9th convocation, who had previously been accused of receiving $85,000 in illicit benefits from a farmer;
- a member of the Kyiv Regional Council.
According to the investigation, the scheme also involved the heads of two state-owned enterprises within the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (NAAS) and an accomplice.
In 2021, according to the investigation, the following were illegally exported:
- over 990 tons of sunflower seeds;
- 1,400 tons of corn.
The total value of these products is estimated at 27.3 million UAH.
In 2022, during the implementation of a similar scheme at another state facility, an additional 203 tons of sunflower seeds were involved.
Law enforcement officials estimate the total losses to the state at nearly 30 million hryvnias.
Charges
Charges have been filed under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine that provide for liability for organizing and aiding in the misappropriation of property on an especially large scale (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and related provisions).
The issue of selecting preventive measures is currently being decided.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, all individuals involved in the case are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict.
