SBU exposes ex-Deputy Minister of Social Policy on embezzlement: details of the case and details about the defendant
11 November 18:54
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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the National Police, has served a notice of suspicion to the former Deputy Minister of Social Policy, who is now an advisor to the current Minister. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the SBU.
According to the investigation, the official is involved in the embezzlement of public funds allocated for the implementation of electronic services in the social sphere. It is about budget losses of more than UAH 23 million caused during the launch of the unified information and analytical system for managing social support for the population – E-Social.
In 2018, the official signed acts to pay for the development of the state E-Social system, which was supposed to combine information on all social benefits, privileges and subsidies.
The contractors were paid UAH 23.7 million, but the platform never went live – it did not meet legal requirements and could not integrate with state registries. In 2021, the contract was terminated.
The audit confirmed that:
- the tender was held with violations;
- the contractors’ proposal should have been rejected;
- the state suffered losses of almost UAH 23.7 million.
Forensic economic expertise also confirmed the fact of damage to the state budget. Based on the evidence collected, the official was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (gross negligence that caused grave consequences).
He faces up to five years in prison. The investigation is ongoing, law enforcement officers are identifying other persons involved in the embezzlement of public funds. The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
According to a source of Ukrayinska Pravda, it is Mykola Shambir.
Mykola Shambir: the path from pension inspector to first deputy minister
Mykola Shambir was born on May 22, 1966, in Rivne region. in 1994, he received a law degree from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
He began his career at the age of 19 at the Joint Center for Calculation and Payment of Pensions and Assistance in Kyiv and Kyiv Region, where he worked as a pension inspector. After two years in the army, he combined his law studies with work at the Kyiv City Center for Calculation and Payment of Pensions; in 1994, he became deputy head of the department.
For 14 years, he served as deputy director for industrial operation of the State Information and Computing Center Of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. In 2008-2014, he headed the Pension Department of the Ministry of Labor (after the 2011 reform, the Ministry of Social Policy).
In October 2014, he was appointed First Deputy Head of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. About two and a half years later, he returned to the Ministry of Social Policy as First Deputy Minister. In September 2019, he was dismissed from this position.
According to the official’s annual electronic tax return, Shambir owns an apartment of 71.4 square meters in joint ownership with his wife and son. Natalia Shambir is also listed as the owner of an apartment of 49.2 square meters and a land plot. And his son Oleksandr is the owner of an unfinished country house of 80 square meters.
Mykola Shambir also owns a car: SKODA KAMIQ 2023, which he purchased for UAH 766 thousand 550. In addition, among his valuable assets he has 21 pieces of debt securities. The official also has bank deposits in Tascombank, Ukreximbank, First Ukrainian International Bank, PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Idea Bank, Universal Bank, Kominbank, and Ukrgasbank.
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