The SSU’s Main Directorate for Internal Security and the Office of the Prosecutor General have dismantled a large-scale scheme involving the embezzlement of public funds intended for road repairs. Following a comprehensive operation, the deputy head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration was exposed for accepting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts to repair inter-regional motorways.

The investigation revealed that the ‘kickback’ received by the official amounted to 5 per cent of the deal’s total value.

For this sum, the perpetrator guaranteed that a contract would be awarded to a road construction company and that public funds would be allocated to carry out the work.

He involved the head of the relevant state agency in the illegal activity.

The SSU documented how the official agreed with the contractor on a bribe of UAH 1.1 million and the phased transfer of part of this sum during June this year.

The participants in the scheme have been notified of their status as suspects under several Articles of the CCU, in accordance with the offences committed:

• 368.3 (receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public official holding a position of responsibility);
• 369.3 (offering, promising or providing an unlawful benefit to a public official holding a position of responsibility).

The decision on a preventive measure is pending. Those involved face up to 10 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The investigation is ongoing to check the possible involvement of one of the heads of the region’s law enforcement agency, as well as other representatives of local government bodies, in the offence, and to bring all those responsible to justice.

The operational and investigative activities were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.