Court releases lyceum director from punishment for negligence in Odesa region

In Odesa region, a court released the director of the Uspensky Lyceum from criminal liability for negligence. During the repair of the lyceum's roof, law enforcement officers discovered overpricing.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Saratsky District Court of Odesa Oblast.

An investigation into the overhaul of the roof of the Assumption Lyceum, which was accompanied by official negligence and overpricing of construction materials, has been completed in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district of Odesa region.

In August 2023, the school entered into an agreement with an Odesa-based company to overhaul the roof. The total contractual amount of work was over UAH 2.5 million. Technical supervision was carried out by a separate specialist, and the work was completed and accepted without comment.

However, the audit found that the contractor had overstated the cost of construction materials by more than UAH 235 thousand. The actual cost of the materials, confirmed by invoices, was significantly lower than indicated in the final payment documents.

The investigation also found that the management of the educational institution, responsible for controlling financial discipline, signed the documents without checking the actual cost of the materials, which created conditions for overstating the costs. The actions of the management were classified as official negligence.

At the court hearing, the lyceum management asked to be released from criminal liability and to be given as bail to the staff of the institution. The motion was supported by the education department and the staff, and the prosecutor did not object.

The court granted the petition, releasing him from criminal liability on the condition that within a year the management would justify the trust of the staff, maintain public order and implement educational measures. In case of failure to fulfill these conditions, the staff may withdraw from the guarantee.

The court also allowed the detention of the director of a private company, whom the investigation suspects of misappropriating budget funds and forgery during the repair of the roof of the Ivanivka B.F. Derevianko Lyceum. According to the investigation, the company's director entered false data in the acts of work performed on the installation and dismantling of scaffolding and installation of roofing battens, work that was not actually carried out.

Анна Бальчінос