New suspects in million-dollar embezzlement on the purchase of transformers were exposed: NABU
NABU and SAP reported the suspicion to two more members of the organized group, which embezzled the funds of JSC “Kharkivoblenergo” during the purchase of energy equipment. About this reported NABU press office.
The director of general issues of JSC “Kharkivoblenergo” and the manager of one of the commercial enterprises became the new participants in the case.
According to the investigation, in the period from April to September 2021, the management of JSC “Kharkivoblenergo” contributed to the selection of two “required” companies as winners of tenders for the purchase of 11,904 units of transformer equipment and 79,425 units of electrical measuring devices. At the same time, the cost of these purchases was deliberately overstated by UAH 132.5 million. The cost of individual equipment components was raised five times.
The heads of the department of the Kharkiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a private appraiser were involved in the implementation of this corruption scheme, who helped to create a deliberately inflated expected cost of purchases, which contributed to the winning of the necessary companies.
As a result of the partial fulfillment of the contract in 2021-2022 for the supply of transformers and meters at inflated prices, JSC “Kharkivoblenergo” suffered losses in the amount of UAH 12.5 million.
The introduction of martial law in Ukraine and the receipt by “Kharkivoblenergo” of humanitarian aid from Ukrainian enterprises and international organizations, including in the form of energy equipment, forced the participants of the scheme to temporarily suspend their actions regarding the appropriation of the remaining funds in the amount of 120 million UAH.
After NABU detectives conducted procedural actions at JSC “Kharkivoblenergo”, the organizers of the scheme decided at the beginning of 2023 to completely stop the implementation of their plan and not to continue the execution of the contract. In total, the number of suspects in this case is seven people.
