Filatov’s team spent UAH 34 million on PR services provided by taxi drivers and handymen
8 October 2024 12:51
The National Police of Ukraine has uncovered a large-scale scheme of embezzlement of budget funds in Dnipro related to the purchase of SMM services. According to the investigation, more than UAH 34 million was illegally withdrawn from the Dnipro city budget under the guise of paying for social media promotion services, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
Investigators found that the scheme was organised by a 38-year-old entrepreneur whose company had previously provided advertising services to the city’s utilities. With the assistance of Dnipro City Council officials, he ensured that eleven individual entrepreneurs under his control won the tender.
It is noteworthy that these individuals work in real life as manicurists, construction labourers, taxi drivers, accountants, electrical appliance salesmen and other professionals whose work is not related to the provision of professional SMM services.
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A municipal utility company of the Dnipro City Council had been contracting these individuals for advertising and marketing services for three years. These services included coverage of the activities of the Dnipro City Council, its executive bodies, officials and deputies through media, social networks and messengers.
In total, the city council allocated UAH 123 million for its own promotion, of which UAH 34.2 million was cashed and distributed among the members of the criminal organisation.
The police conducted 16 authorised searches and seized evidence of criminal activity. Ten suspects, including the organiser, were served a notice of suspicion. Nine of them have been detained, one has been hiding abroad since 2023.
The suspects face up to twelve years in prison with confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
At the same time, the National Police did not say whether the suspects include officials of the Dnipro City Council, as the businessman organised the scheme “with the assistance of officials of the Dnipro City Council”.
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