Odessa officials have been charged with inflated electricity prices

Charges in the case of losses during electricity procurement

According to Главком: Odessa law enforcement officials have charged the former acting director of a municipal enterprise and the director of a private company in a case concerning losses during the procurement of electricity in 2022. The charge was announced on December 29. The losses incurred by the municipal enterprise as a result of this case amount to over 10.2 million hryvnias.

The contract for the supply of electricity, under which electricity was supplied at an inflated price, was concluded in 2022 for nearly 160 million hryvnias. Electricity was supplied at inflated prices from February to September 2022. The acting director of the municipal enterprise is suspected of official negligence under part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The former director of the company is accused of misappropriation of someone else's property under part 5 of Article 191 of the CC, which provides for a maximum punishment of up to 12 years in prison.

Additional charges and investigations

Law enforcement has also charged three participants in the scheme of illegal appropriation of electricity. The total losses of the public joint-stock company 'NEC 'Ukrenergo'' due to this situation amount to over 168 million hryvnias. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement continues to gather materials for further actions.

This case is part of a broader investigation into abuses in the energy sector, which has become particularly relevant in the context of crisis situations related to the war in Ukraine. Rising electricity prices and inflated contracts during procurements are causing public resonance and raising doubts about the transparency of state finances. Further actions by law enforcement may significantly impact anti-corruption policies in the country and the restoration of trust in state institutions.