In Ukraine, law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale scheme for the illegal appropriation of electricity, as a result of which PJSC NPC Ukrenergo suffered losses of over 168 million hryvnias. As reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office, under the procedural guidance of its prosecutors, suspicion was declared against three participants in the transaction.
According to the investigation, the director of a commercial enterprise and the former director of an electricity supplier organized a mechanism for receiving electricity without payment, thereby misappropriating the funds of PrJSC “NEC “Ukrenergo”. In addition, the responsible official of PrJSC “NEC “Ukrenergo” is accused of abuse of office in order to obtain an unlawful benefit for another legal entity.
Investigators established that the official, having the authority to administer settlements in the electricity market and holding a management position, intentionally did not apply the measures of response provided for by law to the electricity supplier, despite the available grounds.
As the investigation found out, officials of the industrial enterprise initiated the conclusion of an agreement for the supply of electricity with a controlled electricity supplier, while not planning to pay for the actually consumed volumes. The electricity supplier itself, according to law enforcement officers, did not purchase electricity in the prescribed manner, but received it at the expense of imbalances formed by the transmission system operator, without paying mandatory payments.
As a result of such actions, according to the investigation, more than 82 thousand MWh of electricity with a total value of more than 168 million hryvnias was unreasonably released, which caused material damage to PrJSC “NEC “Ukrenergo” and led to serious consequences.
During searches of the suspects’ residences, law enforcement officers seized draft records and documents that have evidentiary value in criminal proceedings.
