SBU officers uncovered another corruption scheme, organized by officials of Zatoka Village Council of Odesa region. This time, the officials “got busted" on a large-scale embezzlement of budget funds allocated for the reconstruction of treatment facilities.

The operatives of the special service established that the heads of the local self-government body, which are already involved in several criminal proceedings under facts of abuse of office, entered into a conspiracy with the representatives of the local commercial structures. In particular, in spring 2019 officials concluded contracts for the overhaul and reconstruction of treatment facilities in the territory of the village. Value of the contract was UAH 18 million (USD 750,000). A third part of these funds conspirators appropriated by entering into acts of provided services false data about volumes and the cost of used building materials.

Now, due to the SBU intervention, the corrupt mechanism is blocked. Besides, it was possible to prevent embezzlement by the scheme participants of another UAH 10 million from the state budget.

The law enforcement officers conducted 8 searches at the places of residence of involved persons and in office premises of the Village Council, during which reporting, financial and accounting documents and other materials proving illegal transactions were seized.

Within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated under Part 5 Art. Art. 191 and Part 1 Art. 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine the urgent investigative actions on identifying all circumstances of the case and bringing to criminal responsibility of all participants of illegal transaction are under way. 

Measures to expose illegal scheme were conducted jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Odesa region.