Tetiana Krupa remains the head of Khmelnytsky MSEC despite corruption allegations: why the regional council extended the contract
21 November 2024 21:35
Tetiana Krupa will remain the head of the Khmelnytsky MSEC until 2025. According to the case file, Krupa’s contract was signed in November 2020 for a five-year term, from November 3, 2020, to November 2, 2025. Therefore, her powers as head of the MSEC will last for another year. In addition, as of December 7, 2020, Tetiana Krupa also became a deputy of the Khmelnytsky Regional Council of the eighth convocation and joined the Standing Committee of the Regional Council, which deals with healthcare, social policy, education, science, culture, religion, youth and sports.
Details of the case
According to the court, since November 2020, Tetiana Krupa has become the owner of assets worth UAH 137 million, but the legality of their acquisition has not been confirmed by proper evidence, and these assets are much higher than her official income.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has exposed Tetiana Krupa and her son, the head of the regional department of the Pension Fund, for illicit enrichment on a particularly large scale. During searches of their homes, law enforcement officers found almost USD 5 million 244 thousand, EUR 300 thousand, over UAH 5 million, as well as expensive jewelry and valuables.
“The money was found in different parts of the apartments – in wardrobes, drawers, niches. In addition, documents confirming the illegal activities of the officials and money laundering through business projects were seized,” the SBI said.
It was also recorded that during the searches, Krupa tried to get rid of some of the money by throwing two bags with half a million dollars out the window. A preventive measure in the form of detention until December 3 of this year with the possibility of bail in excess of UAH 500 million was imposed on Tetiana Krupa.
Could the defendant have been released early?
However, despite suspicions of financial crimes, the local regional council decided to extend Krupa’s contract. This decision has caused considerable controversy among the local community and political experts, as it may call into question the effectiveness of the fight against corruption in government agencies.
Lawyer Ihor Feshchenko tells [Komersant ] that the scandalous head of the Khmelnytsky MSEK cannot be dismissed from her post before the court passes a verdict, as this is not provided for by the current legislation, unless her employment contract stipulates that she can be dismissed for being under investigation. And the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption” provides only for temporary suspension from work duties.
“According to Art. 65-1 “Liability for Corruption or Corruption-Related Offenses” of the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption,” a person who has been notified of suspicion of committing a criminal offense in the field of official activity is subject to suspension from office in the manner prescribed by law,” Feshchenko said.
It is worth noting that the head of the MSEC is not a civil servant, as civil servants serve in government agencies, and state healthcare institutions function only as state institutions or enterprises. Therefore, according to the lawyer, Krupa cannot be fired, but at the request of the investigator/prosecutor, she should have been suspended from her duties.
“If this did not happen, it is the investigators’ fault,” the lawyer says.
Thus, the extension of Tetyana Krupa’s contract, despite her suspicions of illicit enrichment, shows the lack of a clear policy of removing corrupt officials and may cause further public and political controversy.
Author – Daryna Glushchenko
