Corruption in water pipeline repair: ex-head of Odesa Oblast village council detained

A corruption scheme involving a former village head of one of the communities in Bereziv district was exposed in Odesa region.

This was reported by the press service of the regional police.

According to the investigation, the official entered into an agreement with a construction company for the overhaul of a water supply system in one of the villages of the district. However, instead of controlling the performance of the work, he provided the contractor with an opportunity to receive illegal benefits.

The official signed certificates of completion, despite the fact that the documentation contained false information about the full scope and cost of the repair work. This allowed the construction company to receive the full amount of funds allocated from the budget, although the work was not fully completed and the equipment was not delivered.

The police estimated that the damage caused to the village council exceeds UAH 200 thousand. The former official has already been notified of suspicion of abuse of office and making deliberately false official documents. He faces up to three years in prison and a ban on holding certain positions or carrying out activities for a similar period.

The police are also establishing the involvement of the persons who carried out the technical supervision of the work in this fraud. In addition, the contractor's company is also being checked.

Recently, the prosecutor's office brought a case against the mayor of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi , Vitaliy Grazhdan, to court. He is accused of organizing extortion of property with threats of violence, which was carried out by a group of people by prior conspiracy.

In addition, Anatoliy Cherednychenko, the village head of Serhiivka, was served a notice of suspicion on the facts of misappropriation of almost UAH 2.4 million of public funds, forgery and money laundering.

Earlier, law enforcement officers detained the deputy head of the Fontanska ATC in Odesa region. In exchange for money, he promised to help men of military age avoid mobilization.

Ірина Глухова