Court returns public complaint about possible corruption in Pivdenoukrainska hospital

The court returned a complaint filed by an NGO regarding alleged corruption. The document referred to the possible abuse of the hospital in Pivdenoukrainsk by officials.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Voznesensk City District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast.

The Voznesensk City District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast returned the complaint of the NGO "Resistance" against the action of the police. The activists demanded that the investigator enter information about possible crimes into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations and launch an investigation.

As stated in the complaint, the alleged violation was committed at the Yuzhnoukrainsk Multidisciplinary Hospital during the installation and commissioning of a medical tomograph purchased with state and local funds. According to the complainants, hospital officials may have abused their positions and misappropriated funds.

The complaint concerned Articles 367 and 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Article 367 provides for liability for official negligence when an official fails to perform his or her duties or does so improperly, causing damage or risk to the state or public interest. Article 191 deals with misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office.

The activists argued that the hospital could have embezzled budget funds allocated for expensive equipment due to negligence or abuse of office. At the same time, the court found that the case was not under the jurisdiction of the Voznesenskiy court, but rather under the jurisdiction of the South Ukrainian City Court.

The judge returned the complaint to the applicants and explained that they could resubmit it to the proper court or appeal the return. The return of the complaint does not deprive them of the right to seek an investigation and to assert responsibility for possible abuses.

Recently, the court arrested the apartment and three cars of the director of the Grail utility company in Pivdenoukrainsk. He is suspected of misappropriating funds during fictitious procurement for the city community. According to the investigation, in September 2022, the director organized a fictitious purchase of heating pipes by entering into a contract with a company under his control. On paper, the pipes were allegedly delivered to the company's warehouse, and the suspect could have spent the money for personal enrichment.

Анна Літман