The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine (SAPO) have detained the incumbent and former directors of State Specialized Industrial Enterprise Spetstechnoexport, which is part of the state Ukroboronprom Concern, on suspicion of embezzling $2.2 million.
They were detained on Monday, March 4, NABU said on Facebook on the same day.
“Three more former officials of the state-owned enterprise were also detained,” it said.
In turn, as reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) in the Facebook social network, SAPO Head Nazar Kholodnitsky reported that the former director of State Specialized Industrial Enterprise Spetstechnoexport, who was involved in organizing the criminal scheme of embezzlement of funds, which caused a Hr 55.5 million (or $2.2 million) loss, was notified about suspicion.
In addition, SAPO prosecutors together with NABU detectives reported that four other current and former high-ranking officials of Spetstechnoexport were notified about suspicion.
“Officials are charged with committing official and intentional forgery, using their official position, in collusion, embezzlement of property, which causes serious consequences for the state’s interests, that is, committing criminal offenses under Parts 2, 3 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 5 of Article 191, Parts 2, 3 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, and Part 1 of article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” SAPO said.
A pretrial investigation revealed that the former director of Spetstechnoexport, involving two of his deputies, the director of the department and the sector head of this enterprise, organized a scheme for embezzling state-owned funds represented by state-owned enterprise (SOE) 410 Civil Aviation Plant and removing them abroad in favor of a foreign legal entity.
“Thus, during the execution of the foreign economic contract for the supply of military products, concluded by Spetstechnoexport as the manager of the property of SOE 410 Civil Aviation Plant with the Ministry of Defense of India, the above-mentioned official attracted an agent (intermediary) to accompany him the United Arab Emirates’ resident company. Under the terms of this agreement, the agent, as a commercial intermediary, is committed to implement on behalf of and for the benefit of Spetstechnoexport measures (to render services) in order to conclude (organize a conclusion) and further implement the above contract,” SAPO reported.
For these services, on the basis of the completed works and payment orders signed by the above-mentioned officials of Spetstechnoexport, the state funds belonging to SOE 410 Civil Aviation Plant in the amount of $2.2 were transferred from the account of the subsidiary to the foreign agent’s account in 2015.
“However, the evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that the mediator mentioned did not provide any services related to the conclusion (organization of the conclusion) or the subsequent implementation of the foreign economic contract. Thus, as a result of the unlawful actions of the officials of Spetstechnoexport and the transfer of funds to the agent for the services provided to the state in the person of SOE 410 Civil Aviation Plant material damage in an amount equivalent to UAH 55.5 million was caused,” SAPO said.
Currently, these persons, including the former and current directors of the subsidiary, have been detained.
