Criminal Group Exposed for Land Fraud in Mykolaiv Region

A criminal group that privatized land plots with sewage treatment facilities and legalized the proceedings was exposed in Mykolaiv region. They now face up to 12 years in prison.

This was reported by the press service of the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Under the procedural supervision of the prosecutor's office, a group of people, including three local residents and a certified land surveyor, was exposed. They are charged with fraud, money laundering, preparation of documents and use of forged documents committed by a group of persons (Art. 190(2), (4), (5), (27), (2), (209, (1), (3), (4), (358) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the land surveyor, knowing about the procedure for privatization of state and municipal land plots, deliberately assisted other participants in the criminal scheme. He knew that on a 2-hectare plot of land located on the territory of the Mishkovo-Pohoriliv village council of Mykolaiv district, there was a real estate object - a sewage treatment plant owned by another person, and offered to register the right to this plot in the name of a third party for the purpose of further concluding a civil contract.

The land surveyor deliberately violated the law, knowing that this person had no right to privatize this land plot, and yet took steps to illegally register the ownership. This allowed him to conceal the property and carry out its illegal alienation. After completing the registration process, the offenders entered into a land sale agreement, misleading a bona fide buyer.

According to the sanction of the article, the offenders face imprisonment for a term of 5 to 12 years with confiscation of property.

The prosecutor's office also filed a lawsuit against the local administration over the illegal transfer of state land to private ownership. It was established that seven citizens were allocated about 40 hectares of land near the river, allegedly for agriculture, although this land was supposed to remain in state ownership.

In addition, a deputy of the village council of Mykolaiv region illegally appropriated a land plot. His actions caused almost half a million hryvnias in damages to the Pervomaisk village council. The official faces up to eight years in prison.

Анна Бальчінос