Colonel of Odesa KEU suspected of overpaying for army beds

While bunk beds were being purchased for the military at prices significantly higher than market prices, the state, according to the investigation, could have suffered multimillion-dollar losses. In Odesa, the court extended the procedural duties of the head of the State Property Management Department, who is suspected of negligence in the procurement of furniture for the army.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

The investigation found that in May 2023, the Odesa Housing and Maintenance Department signed an agreement with the company PGOI Ecoline-Design for the supply of 956 bunk army beds of type A. The total cost of the purchase amounted to 5.4 million hryvnias, and the price of one bed was 5,750 hryvnias.

Law enforcement officials believe that when concluding the contract, the official failed to analyze the market, check alternative commercial offers, and control the efficiency of the use of budget funds. At the same time, according to the case file, the market value of such beds, including delivery, was approximately UAH 3,731 per unit.

According to the investigation, the state could have overpaid almost UAH 1.9 million under this contract alone.

Investigators also found out that in June 2023, the UEU entered into another contract with the same supplier - this time for the purchase of a thousand army beds. The contract amounted to UAH 5.7 million, and the cost per bed remained unchanged at UAH 5,750.

The prosecutor's office notes that in this case, too, the market price of the products was significantly lower, and the alleged overpayment could have exceeded UAH 2 million. The investigation believes that the official failed to ensure proper control over the spending of public funds and the conclusion of contracts.

The court materials state that the total losses incurred by the state budget due to the actions of the head of the Odesa KEU, according to law enforcement officers, may exceed UAH 17.3 million.

The court upheld the prosecutor's motion and extended the suspect's term of office until June 21, 2026.

In January, Intent wrote about this case. At the time of the events described in the court case, the management of the company was headed by Oleksandr Shylo and Yuriy Tsvilodub.

Анна Бальчінос