Former officials stole 101 million on firewood for the army: how the scheme worked

According to hvylya.net: The Independent Investigation Service has completed a pre-trial investigation regarding the former head of the housing and utility department of Luhansk and his team. According to their reports, the group embezzled over 101 million hryvnias by purchasing firewood for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

'According to the investigation, the illegal scheme was organized by the former head of the housing and utility department of Luhansk and his subordinates. They involved two officials from a unit currently located in Dnipro, as well as a private entrepreneur. The participants in the scheme procured firewood worth over 66 thousand cubic meters at inflated prices, circumventing the procedure for open bidding. Contracts were made with intermediaries,' the Bureau said.

A total of 47 instances of procurement at inflated prices have been recorded. The total amount of damage to the state exceeds 101 million hryvnias. Investigators found that the funds passed through the accounts of individuals who were actually under the control of the guilty parties.

Conducted searches and seized evidence

During the investigation, 28 searches were carried out, documents, computers, mobile phones were seized, and more than 70 judicial examinations were appointed. All five participants in the scheme are charged with misappropriation of another's property through abuse of office, committed again, in a state of martial law, on a large scale. The sanctions of the articles provide for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property. In order to compensate for the damage caused to the state, a seizure was imposed on the property of the accused.

Thus, the State Bureau of Investigations has completed its work on the case regarding the criminal scheme of embezzlement of funds during the procurement of firewood for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The individuals involved can expect serious judicial consequences in the form of imprisonment and confiscation of property.