The SBI detained the ex-head of the tax service of Dnipropetrovsk region on suspicion of organizing a VAT evasion scheme

The State Bureau of Investigation detained the former head of the tax service of the Dnipropetrovsk region on suspicion of organizing a VAT evasion scheme. About this informed the local prosecutor’s office and the press service of the SBI.

According to the investigation, officials of the tax service in Dnipro organized a fictitious analytical group, with the help of which they assisted risky enterprises in tax evasion. Only from operations with one of these enterprises, the state suffered losses in the amount of UAH 56 million.

The suspected scheme operated from 2020 to 2023. The investigation considers the former head of the regional tax service to be its organizer, who probably involved several of her subordinates in this.

Thanks to this scheme, risky enterprises could supply goods without paying VAT. To cover up, a so-called “analytical group” was created, which blocked the process of stopping the registration of tax invoices. The investigation reports that at least 36 tax invoices were illegally registered in this way.

During the operation, five people were detained in different cities of Ukraine. One of the suspects tried to leave the country, but was stopped at the western border of the country.

Precautionary measures were chosen for the four suspects in the form of detention with the possibility of bail ranging from 1 to 5 million hryvnias.

The four detainees were charged with abuse of office and participation in the creation of a criminal organization (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 364, Part 3 of Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The former head of the DPS in the Dnipropetrovsk region was additionally charged with creating and leading a criminal organization (Part 3 of Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). These offenses are punishable by up to 13 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.