Case of Odesa's chief of municipal security sent to court

Prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office have sent to court an indictment against Viktor Kuznetsov, head of the Municipal Security Department of the Odesa City Council, and his deputy on the fact of abuse of office and entering false information into official documents.

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators insist that the city council officials organized a scheme to embezzle budget funds allocated for the implementation of the program of logistical support for the territorial defense and volunteer formations of Odesa.

Pursuant to requests from military units, the defendants purchased tactical clothing and armor plates from companies at twice the market price. The overpayment amounted to UAH 3.9 million.

In addition, the deputy head unreasonably signed an expenditure invoice for fictitious receipt of goods, although in fact the entrepreneur did not fulfill his obligations on time. The prosecutor's office filed a civil lawsuit to compensate the territorial community for the damage caused.

An indictment against the director of a metal plate supplier was also filed with the court on the fact of knowingly entering false information into official documents.

Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Economic Security Bureau in Odesa Oblast served a notice of suspicion to the director of a department of Odesa City Council and his deputy on the fact of abuse of office in July.

Law enforcement officers conducted 12 searches at the Odesa City Council and the suspects' residences and seized money, mobile phones, laptops and other office equipment. The estimated value of the seized items is over UAH 1 million.

In June, the SBI conducted searches in Odesa utilities and restaurants. They were looking for humanitarian generators. After that, the Deputy Mayor of Odesa, Valeriy Silin, ordered an urgent inventory of inventory on the balance sheet or in the custody of the Odesa Electricity Maintenance and Installation Enterprise.

Кирило Бойко