The SBU exposed misappropriation of UAH 3 million (USD 111,111) during construction of improved barracks for the Ministry of Defence that meet NATO standards.

Allegedly, in 2018 the Souther Territorial Housing and Maintenance Department held a tender for the construction of a residential complex in the military town Ochakiv.  At the same time, a winning developer company received UAH 5.4 million (USD 200,000). However, the developer did not plan to fulfill its obligations.

The contractor misappropriated UAH 2.9 million (USD 107,400) due to entering of inflated prices into the completion reports.  In order to launder money, the offenders transmitted it to controlled commercial structures and misappropriated the funds.

Additionally, the developer company systematically rescheduled the commissioning of the the barracks, which resulted in significant rise of the initial price of construction. The works are still not completed.

During the searches at office and place of residence of the suspects, the law enforcement seized accounting documentation, which proves misappropriation of budgetary funds.

The organizer of the fraud is served a notice of suspicion of the crimes under Part 3 Article 27, Part 5 Article 191 and Part 1 Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

His accomplice, representative of the developer is suspected of the crime under Part 1 Article 358 and Part 1 Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The director of the developer company is served a notice of suspicion under Part 1 Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The pre-trial investigation to establish all the circumstances of the crime and prosecute involved officials of the Ministry of Defence is ongoing.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Odesa region jointly with the National Police investigators under the supervision of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Odesa garrison of South region of Ukraine.