An official at the Kherson Regional Energy Administration has been suspended from duty for accepting kickbacks on military contracts

Oleg Karimov, head of the operational assets department at the Kherson City Energy Company (KEV), is suspected of accepting bribes from business owners in exchange for military contracts. According to investigators, the official, together with the head of the Kherson City Housing and Utilities Administration, demanded 10% of the contract value in exchange for assistance in securing contracts. 

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

According to the case file, there are at least two incidents related to repair work on military facilities in Kherson. In one case, after the work was completed, the amount of the illegal payment rose to 25,000 hryvnias.

In another case, according to investigators, the contractor was predetermined as the winner of the procurement, after which he was demanded an additional 20,000 hryvnias.

In June, law enforcement officers detained Karimov after he received a 20,000-hryvnia bribe. During a search, this money was found on the official. The court ordered him to be held in pretrial detention, with bail set at 499,200 hryvnias. After the bail was posted, he was released but remained subject to a number of procedural obligations.

Karimov did not admit guilt and refused to provide any explanations. The court extended the obligations imposed on him until October 12.

As reported by Intent, another criminal case is already underway against Karimov regarding losses of nearly 600,000 hryvnias inflicted on the Kherson Energy Company.

Анна Бальчінос