A scheme to split up a retail network was uncovered in Odesa

Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine have completed a pre-trial investigation into tax evasion by the organizer of a chain of clothing and footwear stores.

According to the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine in Odesa region, the 34-year-old entrepreneur organized the sale of goods in Odesa region, Mykolaiv region and Vinnytsia region.

According to the investigation, the man artificially "split up" his business in order not to exceed the limit of the simplified taxation system. To do this, he registered 15 individual entrepreneurs under his control, through whom he actually managed the stores and distributed income.

During the year, the entrepreneur received more than UAH 76 million in income, but declared only about UAH 5 million, resulting in more than UAH 10.6 million in unpaid taxes to the budget.

During 15 searches, detectives seized cash, equipment, documentation and more than 23 thousand items of goods. The total value of the seized property is almost UAH 33.4 million.

The offender was served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. During the investigation, he voluntarily compensated UAH 10.6 million in damages to the state, after which the indictment was sent to court.

According to the Head of the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine in Odesa region Serhii Muntyan, by the time the investigation was completed, the business fragmentation scheme had been completely eliminated. The entrepreneur undertook to register a legal entity and officially employ employees.

Operational support in the case was provided by officers of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine, and procedural guidance was provided by prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

As Intent previously reported, an attempt to bribe a detective of the Bureau of Economic Security was documented in Odesa. The man offered $10,000 to influence the course of the investigation into the illegal organization of gambling.

Андрій Колісніченко