SSU exposes deputy head of Chernivtsi regional military administration on humanitarian aid scam

The involved official helped organize commercial use of ambulances that Ukraine received from Italy as humanitarian aid.

It was the responsibility of this deputy head of the regional military administration to distribute ambulances. He identified one of the medical institutions in the region as a recipient of a part of this aid.

He managed to carry out the ‘deal’ with the help of director general of the medical institution.

The head of the hospital re-registered 5 received ambulances to a controlled civilian charity organization (the founder and owner of which is he himself) to use the vehicles to provide paid transport services to patients.

The fraudsters earned money on cars that were actually intended for free services on behalf of the state.

Earlier, the SSU notified the medic of suspicion. Now that all the evidence has been gathered, the investigation established that the unlawful activity was carried out with the knowledge of the deputy head of military administration. He has been notified of suspicion, too.

The pre-trial investigation is underway within the criminal proceedings under Article 191.5 (misappropriation, embezzlement of property through abuse of office) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The SSU carried out the operation jointly with the National Police under procedural supervision of Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in line with the procedure defined by law and established by a relevant court’s verdict.