Former State Enterprise Head Sentenced to 9 Years for Grain Embezzlement, Supreme Court Rules

Ukraine's Supreme Court Upholds Conviction

According to САП: Ukraine's Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of Yevhen Yerastov, the former acting general director of the state-owned 'Okhtyrka Bread Products Plant.' The court found him guilty of embezzling grain worth 3.2 million hryvnias in November 2020. The trial was conducted in absentia as the defendant is evading justice. This case is part of a broader judicial effort to address corruption within Ukraine's agricultural sector, a critical component of the national economy.

The ruling was issued on April 7, 2026, by the Criminal Cassation Court within the Supreme Court. Yerastov committed the crime by unlawfully removing sunflower seeds from a company branch without the owner's knowledge or consent, transferring the grain to third parties free of charge. This final verdict follows earlier decisions by the Bilopillia District Court on June 19, 2024, and the Sumy Court of Appeal on February 19, 2025.

Sentence and Finality

The court sentenced Yevhen Yerastov to nine years in prison. Additionally, he is barred from holding positions in any business entity for three years and has had property confiscated. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed. The proceedings were conducted as a special trial 'in absentia.'

This case underscores the ongoing fight against corruption and abuse in the state sector, where the embezzlement of public assets causes significant harm to the national economy. The Supreme Court's definitive ruling sends a clear signal to other potential offenders that severe punishment awaits for such crimes, even if the accused attempts to flee justice.