In Kharkiv, a multi-year embezzlement of the city budget amounting to almost 7 million hryvnias was exposed
In Kharkiv, a multi-year embezzlement of the city budget amounting to almost 7 million hryvnias was exposed. reported this by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, during the years 2018-2024, the general director and his first deputy organized an embezzlement scheme. It is about a former official of KP “Kharkivvodokanal” Vitaly Panova.
Officials, having the exclusive right to sign financial documents, concluded additional agreements without conducting mandatory public procurement procedures. As a result, pipes, components and equipment were supplied to the enterprise through a private company at an overpayment compared to the market price. The territorial community of Kharkiv suffered damages in the amount of almost 7 million hryvnias.
Under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two officials of the utility enterprise were notified of the suspicion of embezzlement of other people’s property by abuse of official position, committed by a group of persons based on a prior conspiracy, in particularly large amounts and under martial law conditions (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The sanction of this article provides imprisonment for a period of seven to twelve years with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation is carried out by the investigators of the State Security Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, operational support is provided by the 7th Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
Let us remind you that on September 9, the court chose a preventive measure for the former general director of the utility company in the form of detention with the possibility of bail in the amount of 908.4 thousand hryvnias. Another suspect was also taken into custody, while the court set bail for him in the amount of 242,240 hryvnias.
According to the position of the prosecutor’s office, the amount of bail set by the court is too low, and the prosecution will insist on its increase during the consideration of the case in the appellate instance.
