Court sentences Mykolaivoblenergo official for death of employee

A court convicted an official of Mykolaivoblenergo JSC over a fatal incident at a substation. He was sentenced to three years' probation and banned from holding leadership positions.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Zhovtnevyi District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast.

In November 2020, an accident occurred at the 35/10 kV Horokhivka substation in Mykolaiv district, which resulted in the death of a company employee. The incident occurred during the dismantling of loops between sectionalizers, when an unauthorized person received an electric shock.

The investigation found that the head of the Central Substation Service of JSCMykolaivoblenergo failed to check the documents, permits and training of employees, allowed unauthorized persons to enter the substation and failed to ensure safe work performance. This caused the fatal injury of an employee of EMK Budservice LLC.

The court found the official guilty under Part 2 of Art. 271 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to three years in prison with a two-year disqualification to hold managerial positions at electric power companies. At the same time, the court released him from serving his sentence with a probationary period of one year, provided that during this time he does not commit new crimes and fulfills his duties.

The court also ordered the convict to periodically register with the probation authorities and report any changes in his place of residence, work or study. More than UAH 15 thousand was recovered in favor of the state for the costs of engaging an expert. The civil lawsuit to recover material and moral damages was dismissed.

In May, law enforcement officers conducted searches at the Mykolaivvodokanal utility company on suspicion of embezzlement of budget funds when concluding energy service contracts for water supply facilities. According to the investigation, the officials may have helped Promsila LLC win tenders for the maintenance of pumping stations and treatment facilities.

On the same day, searches were conducted at JSC Mykolaivoblenergo as part of an investigation into the possible misappropriation of funds for the reconstruction of power grids.

Анна Бальчінос