BES exposes UAH 6.4 million fortification construction scheme in Zaporizhia

Detectives of the Main Detective Unit of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) have exposed a criminal scheme for the appropriation of budget funds allocated for the construction of military engineering and technical and fortification structures in the Zaporizhia region.

"According to the investigation, officials of the Melitopol District State Administration, in collusion with representatives of a number of private enterprises, overestimated the cost of materials and equipment during the construction of fortification structures. At the same time, they entered unreliable information into the estimate and reporting documentation. Thus, the defendants seized more than UAH 6.47 million of budget funds. The losses caused to the state are confirmed by the conclusions of forensic examinations," the BES press service reports.

During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers conducted 11 searches at the places of work and residence of the defendants. As a result, financial and business documentation, computer equipment, mobile phones, company seals and other evidence were seized.

Currently, detectives have reported suspicions to two participants in the scheme under Part 1 of Article 209 (legalization (laundering) of proceeds of crime) and Part 5 of Article 191 (embezzlement, embezzlement of property or taking possession of it by abuse of official position) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.